Cockerel attacking molting hen

[vantain]

I have a cockerel, about 10 months old, that started attacking on of my older hens today. Up till now, they all got along fine. The hen being attacked is a 3 year old ISA Brown, that is currently molting. She hasn’t been herself lately, and some of that is due to the molting. She has quite a lot of pin feathers, and is looking ratty right now.

This afternoon, I found her hiding in the coop, with a bloodied comb and face. Later, I observed the cockerel enter the coop and he started attacking her again. This evening at roost time, he again attacked her.

What exactly is going on here? Is he starting to show his true colors, or is this just because he doesn’t like her right now that she is molting? He’s fine with everyone else.

And like I said, up till today, he’s been fine with her. I caged him in a kennel for the night in the coop, just to be sure he doesn’t bloody her more in the morning, or kill her. He’s going bananas in that crate.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a cockerel, about 10 months old, that started attacking on of my older hens today. Up till now, they all got along fine. The hen being attacked is a 3 year old ISA Brown, that is currently molting. She hasn’t been herself lately, and some of that is due to the molting. She has quite a lot of pin feathers, and is looking ratty right now.

This afternoon, I found her hiding in the coop, with a bloodied comb and face. Later, I observed the cockerel enter the coop and he started attacking her again. This evening at roost time, he again attacked her.

What exactly is going on here? Is he starting to show his true colors, or is this just because he doesn’t like her right now that she is molting? He’s fine with everyone else.

And like I said, up till today, he’s been fine with her. I caged him in a kennel for the night in the coop, just to be sure he doesn’t bloody her more in the morning, or kill her. He’s going bananas in that crate.

Sometimes hens in a hard molt act differently and are ostracized or they self isolate because they don't feel good.
How much space is available to the flock?
I'd keep him in the crate out of sight of the flock for a few days to give her time to recover.
I find that the boys fight confinement far more than the girls because they feel they must be with the flock to protect them. Getting him out of sight and ear shot of them may help him calm down.

 

[aart]

Is he starting to show his true colors, or is this just because he doesn’t like her right now that she is molting?

Could be a bit of both.
@DobieLover has given you good advice.

 

[vantain]

Sometimes hens in a hard molt act differently and are ostracized or they self isolate because they don't feel good.
How much space is available to the flock?
I'd keep him in the crate out of sight of the flock for a few days to give her time to recover.
I find that the boys fight confinement far more than the girls because they feel they must be with the flock to protect them. Getting him out of sight and ear shot of them may help him calm down.

I’m going to need a bigger crate. He’s a big boy.

 

[vantain]

How much space is available to the flock?

I have 250sq.ft of run space with plenty of barriers and ways to get out of sight of anyone. The coop is 48sq.ft. There are 9 birds total.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

it's good that you got the rooster away from her, bullying sucks.
Here are a couple of tips for healing your hen ( you might already know them )
You can put normal Neosporin (the non added pain relief kind) on your hen's comb and bloodied spots, and cover it up with blue-kote \ rooster booster cover-up. Also if your local farm supply has Vetericyn spray ( or if you have some ) that will help disinfect her wounds. If she is bleeding badly I would isolate her from the rest of the flock so no one else picks on her.
Hope this helps

 

[vantain]

it's good that you got the rooster away from her, bullying sucks.
Here are a couple of tips for healing your hen ( you might already know them )
You can put normal Neosporin (the non added pain relief kind) on your hen's comb and bloodied spots, and cover it up with blue-kote \ rooster booster cover-up. Also if your local farm supply has Vetericyn spray ( or if you have some ) that will help disinfect her wounds. If she is bleeding badly I would isolate her from the rest of the flock so no one else picks on her.
Hope this helps

She’s doing fine with the rest of the flock, with the rooster in a cage in my shed for now. I’m thinking they may just be better off without him. I don’t need a rooster, I just had him because he wasn’t a she when we got our chicks back in April last year.

 

[aart]

I’m thinking they may just be better off without him.

Everyone will be happier once he's gone.
It's a hard decision, but the peace that reigns after a troublesome bird leaves is worth it.

 

[vantain]

She tore out a toenail while trying to get away from him today. It was bleeding quite a bit. I cleaned her up, sprayed some Vetericin on it, and lathered it in an antibiotic cream. After I put the boy away in the shed, she had a couple of hours free with the other hens. She seemed happy. She’s limping now though. I think the time resting away from the rooster got the best of her, and has caused, what I hope is just a sprain, to hurt a little more. She made it to the roost, and even picked up a sleep buddy for the night. Gwyneth is the one on the far right in this pic.

 

[aart]

Yikes!
Did the toenail come off completely?
It'll take awhile to heal up but I'll bet sh'ell be fine in time.