BULLYING MY BANTAM!!!

[Ashley McDaniel]

So, I am new to owning chickens.... I have a White Silkie Rooster (Romeo) I purchased him from a friend, because he had been BEAT UP pretty bad from his flock and was just pitiful! When I got him home and let him out of the pet carrier I realized that he limps, and has a hard time standing for long periods of time. I don't know if it's his feet or toes or what? But he gets along well with the hens but not with the alpha rooster. So, I have decided to keep Romeo, and give the alpha to my sister in law. I currently have him separated from the flock, and I put my barred rock hen in with him to keep him warm. Will he always be bullied? What can I do to help him? Ideas/Advice/Suggestions

please? Romeo is pictured on top, Lucifer is on bottom.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Seperaintion

 

[chickens really]

I noticed a Bigger Hen in the photo...The Silkie Rooster possibly won't be able to breed those Hens?...Also the Hens might not accept him because his feathers are not the same...Also Silkie are Docile Birds and don't always do well with aggressive breeds...Not sure of your plans for the Flock or why you need a Rooster?

 

[sourland]

Realistically bigger birds pick on smaller or weaker birds. Your silky is both, and since he has always been picked upon his confidence level is low. It's guaranteed that the established flock rooster will never accept him - the hens perhaps, but have a plan B.

 

[chickens really]

Realistically bigger birds pick on smaller or weaker birds. Your silky is both, and since he has always been picked upon his confidence level is low. It's guaranteed that the established flock rooster will never accept him - the hens perhaps, but have a plan B.

From my understanding the Big Rooster is going to a new home.....

 

[Ashley McDaniel]

Thanks everyone, yes Lucifer is going to his new home today actually. All of my hens have accepted him, as well as my other 2 roosters (they were given to me, needed to be re-homed, just fostering them temporarily) but I have separated my silkie from the others, and put 2 hens in his coop. Seems to be working out well.

 

[rebrascora]

I would just say that you need to be careful about quarantine. A silkie rooster (particularly if he is young) that is lame may well be harbouring Marek's disease. He doesn't look overly healthy, but that may just be his hunched posture due to lack of confidence. Other birds will pick on a diseased bird, so that may have been why he was getting a hard time in his previous flock.
Not saying he definitely has Marek's but just that you need to be very careful about adding new birds to your flock especially as you seem to be rehoming others from your flock, as this can easily spread the disease. Marek's is an extremely common and widespread disease which is often fatal and there is no recognised treatment, so please don't think I am scare mongering.... it is a real threat and can lie dormant for months. Please learn a lesson from those of us that have made this mistake and see the suffering this disease causes and be careful about making adult additions to your flock, particularly if they are not healthy looking birds.

 

[Ashley McDaniel]

Thanks so much for all if the good info. I took your advice and have done a lot of research to better educate myself.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Hope he has a new nice home