Barred Rock running scared

[JHH3]

I recently returned my rooster to the flock of 14 hens. Everyone has settled in for the most part but I have one barred rock hen that is having issues.

Whenever the rooster tries to "get" her, she runs. Sometimes she escapes, sometimes she doesn't but she always runs.

The other morning I was crouched down interacting with another hen and he went after her and she ran to me and jumped on my shoulders for protection. She's run to me several times when this happens if I'm outside.

She seems to be agitated a lot and some of the other hens have noticed and pick at her if she gets close. She clucks quite a bit these days, she almost sounds broody but she doesn't sit during the day, she free ranges with the rest of them.

So far she's not gotten injured by the rooster in her attempts to flee, but I feel that it's only a matter of time. He got her the other day and she submitted to him but it seemed less like mating and more like he pinned her down and tweaked her head/neck a couple of times.

Contemplating separating her, though I hate to do it since she's used to free ranging, but I'd like to break this cycle of fear she has toward him.

Any chicken psychologists out there with some sage advice?

 

[MysteryChicken]

How long has your rooster been away from the hens?

 

[JHH3]

How long has your rooster been away from the hens?

He was away for a couple months. He's been back with them for a couple weeks now.

She's the only one that seems to have a problem with him, didn't notice any issues the first week he was back with them and no issues with the others.

When I reintroduced him to them, I put him in the yard in a fenced in area while they free ranged around the area, he called them over several times during the day and they hung out near him so that evening I just opened the fence up and let them lead him back home. Next morning I let them all out and he hung around the coop area for a few days but slowly has ventured out into the world (he wasn't used to free ranging).

He's about a year and three months old, more or less. Mellowed out a little in his old age, plus he hurt/broke/dislocated the rear toe on his left foot so he's not a good runner.

 

[MysteryChicken]

He was away for a couple months. He's been back with them for a couple weeks now.

She's the only one that seems to have a problem with him, didn't notice any issues the first week he was back with them and no issues with the others.

When I reintroduced him to them, I put him in the yard in a fenced in area while they free ranged around the area, he called them over several times during the day and they hung out near him so that evening I just opened the fence up and let them lead him back home. Next morning I let them all out and he hung around the coop area for a few days but slowly has ventured out into the world (he wasn't used to free ranging).

He's about a year and three months old, more or less. Mellowed out a little in his old age, plus he hurt/broke/dislocated the rear toe on his left foot so he's not a good runner.

Could be a Pecking or dynamic change, & the hen is lower on the pecking order now resulting in the fearful behavior.

Hens will take over when the rooster is gone, & may create a different pecking order to change leadership over time.

 

[JHH3]

Could be a Pecking or dynamic change, & the hen is lower on the pecking order now resulting in the fearful behavior.

Hens will take over when the rooster is gone, & may create a different pecking order to change leadership over time.

Possibly, although she was toward the lower end of the pecking order, she wasn't on the bottom and I don't think she is now though I haven't seen her interact with the one that is on the bottom so I'm not positive. As near as I can figure, she's about 3rd from the bottom of the order, maybe higher.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Possibly, although she was toward the lower end of the pecking order, she wasn't on the bottom and I don't think she is now though I haven't seen her interact with the one that is on the bottom so I'm not positive. As near as I can figure, she's about 3rd from the bottom of the order, maybe higher.

She could be at the very bottom now though. You can test this by throwing some corn, or some other treat, & see if the other birds chase her off?

 

[JHH3]

She could be at the very bottom now though. You can test this by throwing some corn, or some other treat, & see if the other birds chase her off?

I'm nearly 100% sure she's not at the very bottom, there's another hen that has occupied that spot for a long time and she's shown no sign that it's changed for her. A quiet little Australorp named Francis, I don't think I've never seen her chase off anyone but she's chased off daily.

This one, Bernice, could be 2nd to the bottom, yes, but I'll have to observe more closely the next time I feed them when it's not raining as it is today. Rain disrupts the feeding dynamic.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'm nearly 100% sure she's not at the very bottom, there's another hen that has occupied that spot for a long time and she's shown no sign that it's changed for her. A quiet little Australorp named Francis, I don't think I've never seen her chase off anyone but she's chased off daily.

This one, Bernice, could be 2nd to the bottom, yes, but I'll have to observe more closely the next time I feed them when it's not raining as it is today. Rain disrupts the feeding dynamic.

Update what you observe?

 

[JHH3]

Update what you observe?

I'll try to remember to post one this evening after their afternoon snack.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'll try to remember to post one this evening after their afternoon snack.

Okay.