Am I doing the right thing?

[churchx3]

I have a small flock of 6 hens and 1 rooster that are approx 8-10 weeks old and they have been together since they were 1 week old. This past weekend I brought home the addl Buff chicks that were the same age 8-10 weeks. I had read on here they are more likely to get along better if approx the same age and size. Anyway from day one the rooster of the original flock kept the three new Buffs away from the other hens...he would run them off whenever they came in close proximity to eat, drink, huddle together. 3rd day, I watched the rooster attack one of the new Buffs so hard that he totally knocked her off her feet. I proceeded to catch the roo and carry him around with me for 20 minutes or so then placed him alone back in the cage where he had spent his first weeks. I did bring him in the house so he was totally separated from the rest of the flock. My question is, am I handling this correctly? If not will he stop being a bully if I return him to the flock?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are living animals with their own personalities. I don't think there are any absolute guarantees in your situation. My guess is that he so young and sexually immature that he does not see the new pullets as additions to his harem but as rivals to the flock.

I think you are doing the right thing. If you can keep him separated for about a week, the odds are the flock integration will be complete. When he goes back he will have to win his spot in the pecking order and flock dominance order all over again. There could easily be some fights, but he will probably not be picking on the new ones any more.

I give you no guarantees but what you are doing is probably what I would try.

 

[churchx3]

Thanks so much! I just can't stand the thought of any of the girls being picked on especially the sweet sweet Buffs Orps...

 

[sourland]

Keep him away until the new pullets are successfully integrated into the flock. (I'd go for at least a week.) Reintroduce him, and if his behavior is the same, remove him for a longer period of time. Understand that when you reintroduce him, the others may pick on him for a while. You want to keep him seperate until the others think of him as an outsider.