Help!!!! Advice needed... Flock bullying Cockerel

[Lilchickhouse]

Hi!

I wonder if anyone could give me advise here...

We recently rescued a young cockerel who was unwanted and going to be killed. He joined the flock (6 hens) one week ago. They won't stop bullying him, won't let him near food/water unless I stand in the pen, feather pulling etc. I have observed and it's all but one hen doing this bullying... The one hen who isn't is the most gentle of the lot.

Will they eventually stop and accept the Rooster as he grows up? He's very nervous, runs away from them all day long, hides in corners, sleeps separately to them... I feel sorry for him. He's not yet making noise on a morning... I wondered if this will change the dynamic when he starts??

Thanks so much for reading, Amy advice v much appreciated!!

 

[sourland]

Any new bird has to gain its position in the flock. As long as he is not being physically injured, provide feed and water in multiple places, provide hiding places, and eventually he will gain his position. It will take time.

 

[aart]

We recently rescued a young cockerel who was unwanted and going to be killed. He joined the flock (6 hens) one week ago. They won't stop bullying him, won't let him near food/water unless I stand in the pen, feather pulling etc. I have observed and it's all but one hen doing this bullying... The one hen who isn't is the most gentle of the lot.

How old are all these birds @Lilchickhouse ?
How many birds total?

How big is your cop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[3KillerBs]

Did you give him a see-don't-touch period?

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[aart]

He is much younger than them. The hens are around 1 year old, he's about 10 weeks or so...

He's still a baby!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Great posts and advice above!

 

[Lilchickhouse]

How old are all these birds @Lilchickhouse ?
How many birds total?

How big is your cop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

6 chickens, plus new Cockerel. So 7 total. Don't have pics right now but the coop is about 10mtrsx5mtrs, and they're free range dawn til dusk in a very large area with wire fencing - like a small meadow, a yard, and shed, they have access to all of it...

I think they didn't have enough time near each other before being in the same area together, there isn't another sleeping area for me to put the cockerel in so he goes into the coop with them all...

I'm hoping they all settle down soon once they've established the pecking order again. There's no visible blood, just a lack of tail feathers... And an evidently upset young cockerel!

He is much younger than them. The hens are around 1 year old, he's about 10 weeks or so...

 

[Lilchickhouse]

Hi!

I wonder if anyone could give me advise here...

We recently rescued a young cockerel who was unwanted and going to be killed. He joined the flock (6 hens) one week ago. They won't stop bullying him, won't let him near food/water unless I stand in the pen, feather pulling etc. I have observed and it's all but one hen doing this bullying... The one hen who isn't is the most gentle of the lot.

Will they eventually stop and accept the Rooster as he grows up? He's very nervous, runs away from them all day long, hides in corners, sleeps separately to them... I feel sorry for him. He's not yet making noise on a morning... I wondered if this will change the dynamic when he starts??

Thanks so much for reading, Amy advice v much appreciated!!

Thanks all for your great advice and help!!!

 

[3KillerBs]

I think they didn't have enough time near each other before being in the same area together, there isn't another sleeping area for me to put the cockerel in so he goes into the coop with them all...

That's probably it. They needed a week or two of see-don't-touch.

The hens are, understandably, resenting having a pesky, pre-teen boy invading their Ladies' Club.

Can you rig up something like my Outdoor Broody Breaker?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/outdoor-broody-breaker.76592/