Flock dynamics suddenly changed

[chickencrazylady]

In my flock I have a 18 month Silkie roo, This past July I got 5 more hens(but turned out 3 hens and 2 roo's) In August I got 5 more hens. Having my Silkie roo being the head of the flock. With the first batch having 2 extra roo's, there have been only a couple of small dust-ups with with my Silkie. But yesterday OMG had the dynamics really changed.
I figured that my smaller 2 roo's have become mature, but for some reason they are both waving a white flag in total surrender to Silkie, he now has complete control of all the hens, and my 2 roo's, Magoo and Hawkeye just stay in the coop and don't come out to eat their treats. Magoo was finally brave enough to come down the ramp (when I threw treats close enough for him) and started to eat, the hens rushed over also and started eating, then my Silkie practically flew across the run and landed on Magoo and chased Magoo back up the ramp and into the coop again, Silkie then stood guard at the coop door and wouldn't allow Magoo and Hawkeye out .
Last night when I went to close the coop door there was Silkie standing guard at the entrance inside, and Magoo and Hawkeye were out in the run sitting on the stairs, I think they were hoping to get in the coop to sleep. I am somewhat concerned over this situation, because when my Silkie, an hour and half later went to bed and settled down Magoo and hawkeye both went into the coop and straight to the feed and water dished, Silkie jumped off his perch and again chases them outside into the run and again stood guard. They have been together for 5 months no problem and now from what I can figure out my Silkie has become the head master of all the hens and poor Magoo and Hawkeye are outcasts suddenly. After seeing for myself what my Silkie is doing, I had to take him out of the coop and bring him into the house for 15 minutes and the take him back out to the coop and Maggo and Hawkeye were settled on the top roosts. Silkie settled on his bottom roost. I really thought things were great with my flock, but now I believe that I may have to many roo's. Unfortunately I don't have the space to separate them all just yet.

 

[so lucky]

It's amazing how quickly things can change. Do you think you may have to separate your silky roo for a while? Do you have a dog carrier you can keep him in (inside the run where the others are) during the day for a few days? Perhaps he may need to be treated just like the big boys and girls when they are bad: put 'em in chicken jail.

 

[Marcymom3]

It does sound like you might need a couple dozen more hens if you are going to keep all those roosters. To be honest, I am new to chickens myself and don't ahve a rooster. But, I read the posts of others and it sounds like one rooster to eight hens is a good ratio. That being said, I feel kinda sorry for Hawkeye and Magoo

and I like the idea of keeping silkie separated for a little while if he is going to act like a bully. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[BrattishTaz]

It sounds like typical rooster politics. I have 5 freerange roos who get along for the most part but challenges do happen. The lowest ranking roo just challenged my alpha and won. My former alpha is sulking around on the outskirts of the flock now. I am sure it will change again at some point. I do not interfere as long as they are not injuring one another.

 

[chickencrazylady]

Well it's Wednesday afternoon, and with a saddened heart Hawkeye and Magoo are going to the big roost in the sky! I caught them both fighting over my small brownie hen, each had a wing and were play tug a war with her! That was the last straw for me. So now Silkie-boy is the lone roo with 8 hens.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Quote:
This is for the best, really. Up and coming cockerels can be brutal to hens, especially when they don't have any of their own. Perhaps the 2 cockerels have been harassing the hens when you're not around, and that's why your silkie roo was putting the pressure on them. Good luck!

 

[shanshan51]

I too had a silkie roo who took over everything. He would only mate with one hen though but protect all of them. I had more than enough hens to go around. I eventually rehomed "Fuzzy" and things have been much better. My other two Roo's snuggle together at night. They seem to be buddies so I couldn't get rid of both of them. They also were better producers.