coop chaos!

[kylohen]

We had four chickens-one rooster and three hens. I forgot to close the fence door one night and the next morning all the hens were missing, just some feathers from one hen in a pile. Of course I feel terrible!!!!!! The rooster was roaming all over crowing for the hens, going across the street even. So we went and got three more hens about 8-10 weeks old. They were all fine in the fenced in area. I have a large coop inside a fenced in area. Three days later we were outside and my son found one of the hens alive in the woods behind the house! Yay! So we got her into the fence. She was terrified. Wouldn't come out of the coop. After a few days she came out and everything seemed to be fine, besides normal pecking of the new hens. Now after a week, she is refusing to come out of the coop again. She is acting terrified of the rooster. If I let the rooster out of the fence, she will come out of the coop. But then the rooster is going crazy not having the hens around and I have to put him back into the fence! Now the new hens are copying the other one and they won't come out. He's a very gentle rooster. He isn't even trying to get on the new hens, they aren't old enough yet. He just stands over the food making his noise for them to come eat from him. He lets them eat the food out of his beak! So cute. maybe they all do that, I don't know! Any suggestions??? Should I keep the coop closed up and force everyone to get along?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

How old are they? If only she and he are sexually mature he may be abusing her so she's avoiding him.

 

[kylohen]

How old are they? If only she and he are sexually mature he may be abusing her so she's avoiding him.

The three new ones are about 10 weeks. The rooster and older hen are a year and a half. Should I keep them separated? Or just let them be. She is staying in the coop away from him anyway. I just don't want her to quit eating or be too lonely..if they get too lonely.

 

[featheredplanets]

Did you intergrate them properly or just put them in the run with him? The hen left could be getting over mated by the cockerel. I would say the bare minimum (in my opinion) is 6 sexually mature hens to one cockerel.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If you have room, I would add another sexually mature female to take some of his attention.

 

[aart]

Your older hen is traumatized, may take while for her to reenter the flock.
I'd just give it time...do some chicken juggling.
Put the cock and a few pullets outside the enclosure for a few hours each day and let her get her bearings again.
Pis of your coop and run would help us help you.
Adding your location to your profile would help too.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with AArt. This has been chaotic, try to wait it out. Maybe add another feed station, behind a mini wall. I am not an advocate of feeding in the coop, but maybe a bowl in there for a day or two.

Really it is the chaos that is upsetting all of them. Don't add to the chaos by separating them and re-adding them again. If your rooster is a year and half, he is not a cockerel and if you see him as being gentle, he most likely is when you are not there too. Roosters do not sneak around people... unless they are mean and sneaking up on your backside.

Keep it as calm as possible, but adding some roosts, and hideouts inside the run is always a good idea.

MRs k

 

[kylohen]

thanks for the answers! I really appreciate it! I took some "treats" out there just now and she came down and ate outside the coop and got some water. Rooster didn't bother her at all. then she went back in. I am leaving some food and water in there for her too. Will try to put some pictures up