Establishing pecking order or just mean cockerel

[silversniper]

So last sunday i finally got my pullets delivered 2 large fowl, a light sussex and a blue ranger around 22 weeks old and 3 bantams lights sussex, black rock and blue ranger all 6 weeks. To keep my 13 week light sussex cockerel company.

There all in a 16x 4 ft run.

Up until last monday my cockerel had never even met another chicken, however it took him less than a minute to become topdog.

It's day 4. All the pullets run away from him now, he pecks at them while their running past EVERYTIME, sometimes he'll walk across the whole run just to peck one.

I thought the pecking order was established in the first day, how long will it take? or Is he just mean ?

Just wanted to add the bantams try sleeping under his wings and he always runs off. Could he just be scared off them and still getting used to other chicks

 

[donrae]

Well, the pecking order isn't always set in stone, and sounds like he's maintaining it. I've seen my roosters do this to the other roosters all the time, and I do it myself to keep my top dog status. If he's not drawing blood or incessantly picking on one bird in particular, I'd leave them alone.

 

[cupman]

You could run into problems with your rooster injuring your bantam hens when he tries to mate. I've heard it's not a good idea but maybe others have had successes with it.

 

[gryeyes]

The pecking order is a dynamic thing, actually. It takes 'em a while to establish is, and there will be some challenging to make sure they really know their places in that paradigm.

And pecking is part of it. If they aren't drawing blood from combs or wattles, it's going well.

 

[pokemonshop]

separate them for a few months then put him back when the others are sleeping wake up together and they get along better.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

some roosters are just plain mean to others, even hens. i dont tolerate it myself. if hes not a gentleman and catering to the hens he gets his self gone quick.