Chicken drama

[abosman]

Hello! Our friend happen to give us two chicks to add on to our flock and one happen to be a roo and the other (hopefully) a pullet. They’re both a couple weeks apart but the cockerel keeps picking on the little one and causing chicken drama. Both of them are still pretty young to introduce to our hens but the cockerel has to go asap!! We would cull him but we don’t want our pullet to be alone until she can be introduced to the rest of our flock. I don’t think space is the issue because even when they have the whole backyard to themselves, the cockerel will still pick on the little one. Should i wait until i can get another chick to replace the cockerel? Or if i just remove the bully, will the other chick be fine on her own?

 

[bobbi-j]

Why make her put up with being bullied any longer than necessary? How old are they?

 

[abosman]

Why make her put up with being bullied any longer than necessary? How old are they?

Will she be okay on her own until i can get another friend for her? The cockerel is about 13 weeks and the pullet is 11 weeks.

 

[bobbi-j]

I would say she’s old enough to integrate with the other chickens. Make sure there is a lot of space and that she has plenty of hiding places. (A pallet leaning against the fence open on both ends that she can hide behind, or a pallet on cement blocks for her to go under.) Have two or three feeders and waterers available - maybe one where she could eat out of sight of the others. @aart has good integration tips - hopefully they’ll chime in.

 

[aart]

Adding a single bird is tricky, one of the hardest integrations.
This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

and here are some......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

How about adding both so the introductory pecking is shared between them and removing the cockerel later? He might not get as many chances to pick on her.

 

[abosman]

thank you! Both of the chicks have been outside in a cage for the past few weeks next to the other chicken’s coop, so that makes it easier. I tried integrating both chicks with the hens but all the cockerel does is chase the hens around and pick on them! Our rooster tried putting him in his place but that didn’t last long- and so did our lead hen. I might just cull him now- it seems like he won’t learn. is there anything else i can do aside from culling him first?

 

[aart]

is there anything else i can do aside from culling him first?

At least separate him...some folks separate young cockerels until the pullets start laying.
But you already have a male, so ...winnerwinnerchickendinner.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Sounds like he's letting her fly umder the radar as far as the others go. I'd remove him at night so she can wake up with the others and they won't bother her as much.

 

[aart]

I'd remove him at night so she can wake up with the others and they won't bother her as much.

I wouldn't count on that, keep a sharp eye on them.