Change in pecking order and a banned rooster

[jmccarrell]

Ok, so I've had my flock of 6 chickens since they were a week old back in March of this year. Everything has been goin fine up until the past week or so. I have 3 roos and 3 hens just so everyone is clear and has an understanding of what might be happening. This whole time my black amercuana roo has been the leader of the flock and a really good one at that. Well, recently my cuckoo maran roo has decided to take over and has been very mean to the others, especially to the former leader. He has gone so far as to basically oust the other roo. I currently have them seperated from eachother but feel bad because Charlie, the black one, has been alone due to injuries sustained in their battles. I have also noticed the same behavior towards the hens and other roo and have noticed that the food isn't going as quickly as it has in the past. I know it isn't really a good idea to have more than one roo in the same coop but I figured since they've been together since day one I wouldn't have any issues. I am kind of at a loss as to what I should do here. I have no problems with putting the mean roo on the dinner table, but my kids do. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help.

 

[sourland]

You know the nature of the black rooster as he was a good flock leader until ousted. It would make good common sense to rehome the cuckoo maran (his behavior towards the hens is unacceptable) and the other rooster and keep only Charlie and the hens. Everyone including the hens will be far happier.

 

[jmccarrell]

Yeah, that was my thought as well. We will see what happens. I am seriously considering eating him because he is a big bird. I will just have to figure a way to do it without the kids knowing about it, at least until after he's been ate. I really only have one child that would be upset because she's been very active in helping me raise these birds. She does realize that I might end up doing that. I'm just hoping that Charlie heals up well because that poor bird has really caught a lot of stress lately. He got out of the outside pen today and my dog got a hold of him, fortunately I was there to save him before any real damage was done. Only time and care will tell how his story ends. My daughter has a real attachment to Charlie and it would just devestate her if he didn't make it. He has a bad limp due to a tussel with the other bird. Poor Charlie. He seems to have a lot of heart so I am optimistic about his recovery.