Delimmas, Delimmas, Delimmas - Bully Rooster, Baby Chick and Broody Hen

[chickenmomma2]

I've only been raising chickens since February. These are my delimmas and would appreciate any help/insight you could give me. BTW, all my babies free range anywhere from 8-12 hours a day:

February, I hatched 16 chickens. Some Americans, some I'm not sure. Out of the 16 I have 4 roosters. Initially, all of the roosters got along ok and they divided up the girls to their own little groups. That is all, except Rufus. Seems, none of the girls wanted anything to do with Rufus. But, he was persistant and finally convinced the 3 girls I adopted from my neighbor that "he was the man". Now, he stays close to the coop with Sophia, Lucy and Ethel. Sophia is visually impaired and I think he knows that. Which is why he must keep her close to the coop.

Delimma 1:
Anyway, Ethel went brood (she was born last November) and hatched 1 egg successfully. I left the baby and momma in the coop with everyone else and they ignored her. Tonight everyone went in the coop (they were all drenched from the rain we had today) and got on their roosts. The older chickens started pecking at the baby. Where, the days before, they allowed her to roost next to them in the same spot. Rufus ran her out of the coop and followed her into the run. He was trying to get to her. (NOTE: I'm calling it a her, but I'm not sure. She was born August 4th.) Rufus and I had another "come to Jesus meeting with the stick and he finally went back into the coop and left her alone. Ethel just stayed up on the roost pole and didn't go after her. I finally took Ethel off the pole and took her outside. She finally brought baby back inside.

My question is: Did the fact that the chickens were drenched put them in a bad mood and make them less tolerant of the chick? Should I separate the chick from everyone else? It appears momma is losing interest in the chick.

Delimma 2:
I have another hen who has gone brood and she is sitting on 5 eggs. They should hatch around September 17th. Daily Ethel, who just hatched the chick, tries to get into the nest box. There is such a racket. I finally moved Vicki (my broody hen) to another nest box and everything is fine.

My question is: Should I move Vicki into a brooder box? Or would it be ok to fence off the area in the coop where she is to give her some peace? Also, when the other hens lay, Vicki goes and collects there eggs. I've labeled the eggs she's incubating and take the new ones. When I did move her I found a broken egg in the nest box.

Delimma 3:
Rufus is a PAIN in my butt. The first of May I purchased 16 more chicks; all hens; 8 buff orpingtons and 8 Americanas. The older chickens are on one side of the coop and the buffs and Americanas are on the otherside. When I open the door to the run, the older chickens come outside and the newbies stay inside. They come down onto the floor of the coop and eat and drink. Before I let the older chickens out to free range I release the girls and they run to the other side of the garage. I then release the older ones and they just free range all over. When it's time to go to bed the older chickens go in first and get their spots. Then the girls come about 30-45 minutes later. Almost nightly Rufus waits until 1/2 get in the coop and then he chases them out of the coop. He has done this as many as 3 times in one night. He tries to "have them". He has only caught 2.

I have thought about getting rid of Rufus. He has tormented the older chicks to the point, in the past, that I made him sleep outside in the run 3 nights in a row. He torments "the girls" and now he may be picking on the month old baby. Don't know what he will do when the other babies are born. I know the other roosters and hens don't particularly care for him either.

My question is: Should I get rid of Rufus? What effect will that have on his ladies? Should I add on to the coop so the girls can have their own coop? Should I isolate Rufus?

I know this is a long message. But I'm at a loss. Thank you for any suggestions and insights.
ChickenMomma2

 

[sumi]

I think you should find Rufus a new home.

 

[sdsmowen]

4 Roosters for 12 girls? your first issue is too many Roosters! even with the newer girls your still a little heavy in the rooster department. I would find a new home for Rufus the pesky rooster and then keep an eye on how everyone settles out after.
If it was only the one night that the flock chased out the baby then it may have been the rain, but I would keep an eye out for a bit just to be sure.

 

[Judy]

I would also lose Rufus, and probably one more rooster. If the chick is about a month old, then it's the usual time for the mama to stop mothering. Usually chicks will do OK in with the flock at that point -- usually.

I prefer having a broody in the coop but in a separate pen, so they still see and hear each other. When the chicks are a day or two old and they and mama want out, I let them out to live with the flock. I have a corner of my coop, maybe 4'x4' enclosed in chicken wire for this. Also came in handy at other times, for an injured chicken, etc.

 

[chickenmomma2]

Ok. Thank you for your replys. I was thinking about getting rid of Rufus. I had made a call to a friend to come get him a couple months ago but changed my mind before he came to get him. My biggest concern is that he is the "protector" of Sophia (my visually impaired), Lucy and Ethel (the current momma).

I wasn't sure if I should add an addition to the coop. But, I believe I'll go with the nursey in the coop and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I've only been raising chickens since February. These are my delimmas and would appreciate any help/insight you could give me. BTW, all my babies free range anywhere from 8-12 hours a day:

February, I hatched 16 chickens. Some Americans, some I'm not sure. Out of the 16 I have 4 roosters. Initially, all of the roosters got along ok and they divided up the girls to their own little groups. That is all, except Rufus. Seems, none of the girls wanted anything to do with Rufus. But, he was persistant and finally convinced the 3 girls I adopted from my neighbor that "he was the man". Now, he stays close to the coop with Sophia, Lucy and Ethel. Sophia is visually impaired and I think he knows that. Which is why he must keep her close to the coop.

Delimma 1:
Anyway, Ethel went brood (she was born last November) and hatched 1 egg successfully. I left the baby and momma in the coop with everyone else and they ignored her. Tonight everyone went in the coop (they were all drenched from the rain we had today) and got on their roosts. The older chickens started pecking at the baby. Where, the days before, they allowed her to roost next to them in the same spot. Rufus ran her out of the coop and followed her into the run. He was trying to get to her. (NOTE: I'm calling it a her, but I'm not sure. She was born August 4th.) Rufus and I had another "come to Jesus meeting with the stick and he finally went back into the coop and left her alone. Ethel just stayed up on the roost pole and didn't go after her. I finally took Ethel off the pole and took her outside. She finally brought baby back inside.

My question is: Did the fact that the chickens were drenched put them in a bad mood and make them less tolerant of the chick? Should I separate the chick from everyone else? It appears momma is losing interest in the chick.

I don't think the weather was the factor - but it could have been. The chick is now 4 weeks old - that's the time when babies usually are set free and independent from mommas - depends of course on the broody - but Ethel's actions seem in line with what I've witnessed in my own broody girls. Also one thing I have noticed is that whenever I've had more then two roosters at a time the roosters would peck at the new cockerels - but not the pullets. Ethel not getting up to help the chick tells me even more that the chick is a cockerel as my broodies let the cockerels have a greater leash than the pullets. I would separate the roosters rather then the layers and their chicks - if you are breeding them just bring out a rooster or two for the breeding period. Your rooster to hen ratio in the coop puts everyone under stress. I've had similar situations and the thing that eliminated the stress was removing the roosters.

Delimma 2:
I have another hen who has gone brood and she is sitting on 5 eggs. They should hatch around September 17th. Daily Ethel, who just hatched the chick, tries to get into the nest box. There is such a racket. I finally moved Vicki (my broody hen) to another nest box and everything is fine.

My question is: Should I move Vicki into a brooder box? Or would it be ok to fence off the area in the coop where she is to give her some peace? Also, when the other hens lay, Vicki goes and collects there eggs. I've labeled the eggs she's incubating and take the new ones. When I did move her I found a broken egg in the nest box.

If you are wanting to hatch specific eggs and care about whether they hatch - I would separate otherwise you will keep having others laying in there and risk broken eggs. But if you are just wanting to placate the broody and let her hatch anything or nothing - leave her where she is and mark the eggs like you've been doing. I move my broodies because I purchase hatching eggs and want to make sure no one breaks them. If I were hatching my own eggs I wouldn't care about moving them.

Delimma 3:
Rufus is a PAIN in my butt. The first of May I purchased 16 more chicks; all hens; 8 buff orpingtons and 8 Americanas. The older chickens are on one side of the coop and the buffs and Americanas are on the otherside. When I open the door to the run, the older chickens come outside and the newbies stay inside. They come down onto the floor of the coop and eat and drink. Before I let the older chickens out to free range I release the girls and they run to the other side of the garage. I then release the older ones and they just free range all over. When it's time to go to bed the older chickens go in first and get their spots. Then the girls come about 30-45 minutes later. Almost nightly Rufus waits until 1/2 get in the coop and then he chases them out of the coop. He has done this as many as 3 times in one night. He tries to "have them". He has only caught 2.

I have thought about getting rid of Rufus. He has tormented the older chicks to the point, in the past, that I made him sleep outside in the run 3 nights in a row. He torments "the girls" and now he may be picking on the month old baby. Don't know what he will do when the other babies are born. I know the other roosters and hens don't particularly care for him either.

My question is: Should I get rid of Rufus? What effect will that have on his ladies? Should I add on to the coop so the girls can have their own coop? Should I isolate Rufus?

Rufus sounds like a typical rooster. I had one like him not too long ago - Spots was his name. He would sneak attack anything that moved. My older roosters tolerated him - but I could tell by his White Leghorn roots that he was going to be aggressive with the ladies since his father had been. He is probably trying his best to get some girls since that is what roosters do. Personally I would keep him and get rid of the other 4 roosters. Seems he has a lot of gumption.

I know this is a long message. But I'm at a loss. Thank you for any suggestions and insights.

If you really want to keep that many roosters in the same coop you are going to continually have these types of issues. Roosters are supposed to take care of the flock, feed the girls, find them nesting places, watch over their well being and in return the pullets let him do those things. My suggestion is either build a separate bachelor's coop or eliminate 2 or 3 roosters.

ChickenMomma2

I typed my thoughts in blue above - hope it helps. I've had similar problems in the past and my current flock is 14: four 4 week old babies of unknown sex, two 15 week silky cockerels and only one crows occassionally in with 8 layers of various breeds and ages. The coop is currently quiet - but I miss my older roosters.

 

[chickenmomma2]

Very helpful. Thank you. I will try these suggestions and I have a home for Rufus when I'm ready to get rid of him. Thank you.