Bloody nesting boxes and bloody eggs...

[Hobbshouse14]

Great suggestions for the nesting boxes for privacy. We have considered building a larger coop and attaching it to the run and then using the old coop as a separate broody area for hens with babies. They still cram on two roosting bars at night as is and leave the third completely unused. We have also considered building a pole barn and using a stall as a coop with buried hardware mesh along the floor and hardware mesh along any opening, but am not sure just yet.

As far as the cockerel, he seems so good with the girls from what we have seen. We will keep a closer eye out though now. We have had two other roosters that were too rough with the girls and we did not keep them.

Should we put spray on their combs and keep them separated while healing? Watch them as a group tomorrow? We have all weekend at home.

 

[Hobbshouse14]

When you have a free day, spend some time observing them and you should be able to figure out where the problem lies. Whether it is the cockerel or two females having a ding dong over pecking order. I would not separate them as long as they have plenty of room to get away. You might want to invest in some Blue Kote to spray injured combs, so they don't attract more unwanted attention.

Perfect! I was writing my previous reply when this came through. Thank you!!!

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately most young males are troublesome when their hormones kick in. It happens earlier with some than others, so you might think you have got rid of the troublemakers and kept the nice one and then his hormones kick in and he is just as bad.
In a more natural environment they would be brought up in an adult group where the dominant male and senior hens would keep them in check or run them off, or the pullets would stick close to the dominant, mature rooster for protection, but when people get a batch of chicks with a cockerel or two that are all the same age, it makes for unpleasant little oiks, because those boys have no one to put them in their place when those hormones kick in. As @azygous suggests, a "time out" pen is a good idea. Early morning and afternoon/evening tend to be the worst times for those hormone surges, so that is the time to observe his behaviour. Usually you will hear the pullets screaming when he grabs them.

 

[Hobbshouse14]

Great ideas! We just received HOA approval to fence our 2 acre backyard. I would love to let him free range eventually. We have two dogs that are great for hawk protection and when the dogs bark, all the chickens run for cover when we are out with them. In the meantime, we have the large dog crate we can use as a time out pen. Thanks!