Bullied pullet

[Georgiahome622]

Advice needed!

I have 12 hens and 2 roosters (both roosters weren't expected in my order). One of the roosters is a big boy - clearly a meat bird and more than twice as big as my hens, and significantly bigger than the other rooster. All are 16 weeks old, a "colored egg assortment" from Hoovers.

One of my hens is a bit smaller than the rest and is fearful. I have two coops with a run between them, and i often find her in one of the coops rather than in the run with the others. When I go into the run to bring treats, she hangs back. When I let them out to free range, I often have to go into the run and make her come out. When she does come for treats, i see subtle signs of bullying, like someone heading her off when she heads for a piece of fruit, or such. I feel she is also prevented from eating as much as she'd like/should.

When she is in the run while the rest free ranging, my big rooster will stand by the fence and watch her, and yesterday he actually went in - I think to make her go out. Today, when I made her go out, he stood by her the whole time they were out. I really can't tell if he is being threatening to her or if he is actually protecting her. He is such a big proud boy, very much dominant.

Is there anything I can do to help her? I realize someone has to be at the bottom of the pecking order, but i at least want to be sure she is getting enough to eat. I'm also afraid if I favor her, it will make things worse.

Or am I overthinking this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Chookchicken]

How many food/water sources do you have in your run? How much space do you have in your run? Do you have places for her to hide in your run? When their all free ranging maybe try giving her some food and snacks on her own to see if she eats them.

 

[Georgiahome622]

I have just one large feeder and one big waterer. I’ve been thinking of adding another. My run is 15’x12’. The only places she can Here is a pic of my setup.

 

[Chookchicken]

For 12 hens you should I’d say have at least 3 feeders, and around 5 water sources, especially if you have a chicken like this who is getting bullied. Could you put in some things for her to hide behind, then maybe you could try putting a feeder behind a pot or something for her. Maybe cut the snacks up a bit and throw them all around the coop, or if you have lettuce or something similar to lettuce pull the stalks off and throw them around the coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

You want to set up your feeders so that a bird eating at one station, cannot see a bird eating at another station.

Adding clutter would also help, roosts, platforms, ladders, saw horses, pallets can give birds more exercise, more space and allows them to get away from other birds.

Mrs K

 

[Georgiahome622]

Advice needed!

I have 12 hens and 2 roosters (both roosters weren't expected in my order). One of the roosters is a big boy - clearly a meat bird and more than twice as big as my hens, and significantly bigger than the other rooster. All are 16 weeks old, a "colored egg assortment" from Hoovers.

One of my hens is a bit smaller than the rest and is fearful. I have two coops with a run between them, and i often find her in one of the coops rather than in the run with the others. When I go into the run to bring treats, she hangs back. When I let them out to free range, I often have to go into the run and make her come out. When she does come for treats, i see subtle signs of bullying, like someone heading her off when she heads for a piece of fruit, or such. I feel she is also prevented from eating as much as she'd like/should.

When she is in the run while the rest free ranging, my big rooster will stand by the fence and watch her, and yesterday he actually went in - I think to make her go out. Today, when I made her go out, he stood by her the whole time they were out. I really can't tell if he is being threatening to her or if he is actually protecting her. He is such a big proud boy, very much dominant.

Is there anything I can do to help her? I realize someone has to be at the bottom of the pecking order, but i at least want to be sure she is getting enough to eat. I'm also afraid if I favor her, it will make things worse.

Or am I overthinking this?

Thanks in advance!

An update to this post: I have added additional feeders and waterers, but my girl still is being pecked badly. I separate her in the evenings sometimes with another hen or two, in my smaller coop and then let everyone out in the morning together. The rooster has become even more intimidating toward her, and I have determined that he is the bully. She acts terrified of him. She probably weighs just a couple of pounds now at 16 weeks yet acts healthy (just afraid).

Today the rooster attacked me when I turned my back, completely unprovoked. I was just hanging out with them while they ranged. He cut my leg pretty bad. I went to clean myself up and when I came back out, he ran at me. I know the hens are getting close to breeding age, so maybe he is becoming more aggressive due to that. I have another rooster that is more size appropriate and certainly better tempered.

I think big boy is going to have to go. He is enormous for my hens anyway and I just can’t deal with an aggressive rooster I would be afraid to pick up - guys he is huge.

sad and mad and disappointed.

 

[Folly's place]

Cockerels can grow up to be wonderful, or not. Separate this jerk immediately, and have him for dinner, or send him off for someone else's dinner!
This is not anyone's fault, it's just who he is. sad, but true. your other cockerel may be a winner, or not, it's too soon to really know.
Having no cockerels this year might be best. Next year you will have hens, at least, who can help civilize the youngsters, rather than having a huge bird who' growing up being a bully.
Mary

 

[Georgiahome622]

Cockerels can grow up to be wonderful, or not. Separate this jerk immediately, and have him for dinner, or send him off for someone else's dinner!
This is not anyone's fault, it's just who he is. sad, but true. your other cockerel may be a winner, or not, it's too soon to really know.
Having no cockerels this year might be best. Next year you will have hens, at least, who can help civilize the youngsters, rather than having a huge bird who' growing up being a bully.
Mary

Thanks for the support. I really am upset about it.

 

[ElizaMay]

I believe aggressive roosters only respect the same behaviour back to them as they give, in their cockamamie heads it is dominance and the fittest rules. I kick back - logic and human reasoning doesn't work in bird-world. And when he retreats ( it will be when, I have more patience) I chase him down, corner him, and scruff him, and put his neck and head in the dirt, and hold him there until I am satisfied he has got the message that while I am out there, I, Sir, am Head Roo. If another attempt at attack occurs after that, that's it. There are so danged many roosters that poor ones are stew.

 

[Chookchicken]

I believe aggressive roosters only respect the same behaviour back to them as they give, in their cockamamie heads it is dominance and the fittest rules. I kick back - logic and human reasoning doesn't work in bird-world. And when he retreats ( it will be when, I have more patience) I chase him down, corner him, and scruff him, and put his neck and head in the dirt, and hold him there until I am satisfied he has got the message that while I am out there, I, Sir, am Head Roo. If another attempt at attack occurs after that, that's it. There are so danged many roosters that poor ones are stew.

It‘s a trait some roosters have. Attempting to show dominance over him whilst you are outside will only make him scared of you. It isn’t likely to make him act nicer towards his hens. I don’t like the idea of scruffing a rooster and putting his head and neck in dirt, it just doesn’t sit well with me. If you want to do it then okay do it, I just wouldn’t recommend it to other people. I feel like it would be really easy to accidentally kill your rooster or cause him pain. Scruffing is really just grabbing at the feathers on his neck.

If it’s a mean rooster it becomes dinner. Or if you want to train him find a humane way to do so, don’t get violent with them.