So this is my set up. I have 4 5 month old bantams I had in one coop, 5 VERY LARGE mixed breed hens in another, and 4 9 week old pullets in another. All the runs connect but are separated so they are used to seeing eachother. My 5 hens are the only ones who free range but only for a few hours in the evening (hawk issues).
My problem is I have 10 4 week old LF favorelles who had to get out of the brooder. I put them in the small coop where the bantams were and put the bantams in with the 9 week old pullets who are actually bigger than them...but my bantam roo would attact the girls, pulling feathers and chasing them etc.
So I put the bantams in with the 5 hens. My roo will not even attempt to mess with these big girls but of course the big girls are being very mean, pecking and won't let them come into the shady part of the run (where the food and water is). This space is really big but only so much is shaded. So in desparation I put a chair out so the bantams could have shade and gave them food and water over there but this obviously is not an ideal situation.
I tried separating the roo when I had them in with the 9 week olds and that would probably be ok but my roo became very stressed and he is very special to me...he almost died a few months ago.
So now I'm wondering if I can put them back in their original coop with the 4 week olds (they are almost the same size) but I'm worried because my favs are a LOT of boys. I'm sure my roo will attack them too although there is more than enough space in that coop and run for all of them.
Sorry...DH said another coop is not an option.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
My problem is I have 10 4 week old LF favorelles who had to get out of the brooder. I put them in the small coop where the bantams were and put the bantams in with the 9 week old pullets who are actually bigger than them...but my bantam roo would attact the girls, pulling feathers and chasing them etc.
So I put the bantams in with the 5 hens. My roo will not even attempt to mess with these big girls but of course the big girls are being very mean, pecking and won't let them come into the shady part of the run (where the food and water is). This space is really big but only so much is shaded. So in desparation I put a chair out so the bantams could have shade and gave them food and water over there but this obviously is not an ideal situation.
I tried separating the roo when I had them in with the 9 week olds and that would probably be ok but my roo became very stressed and he is very special to me...he almost died a few months ago.
So now I'm wondering if I can put them back in their original coop with the 4 week olds (they are almost the same size) but I'm worried because my favs are a LOT of boys. I'm sure my roo will attack them too although there is more than enough space in that coop and run for all of them.
Sorry...DH said another coop is not an option.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
