Help introducing 2 old hens to my flock with a rooster

[Daiene]

I need advice.

My flock consist of 4 hens that are one year old, 8 hens that are four months old. And a rooster that is about 5 months old. The younger ones (4 and 5 months old) spent a lot of time next to the older ones separated by a fence and the final merge was a huge success. It was very smooth and very little picking.

About a month ago, I got 2 hens that were one year old. I got them a little coop and attached it to my run. I put a fence to separate them and things were going great!

Two days ago, I decided to remove the fence and all the GIRLS got along very nicely. Very low to almost no picking at each other.
However my rooster is picking a lot at them. To the point that makes me believe he wants to kill them. At first I thought he was chasing the 2 new ones and over pecking at them so they would submit to him. But he got extremely aggressive towards those 2 to the point one lost a lot of feathers and was bleeding really bad.

So as of right now, I’m keeping him separated by a fence inside the run, where the new hens were. He still uses the same run, but he has his own space, and can see all the girls.

At night time, I’m putting him in the big coop with all the girls. In the am I go in the run and separate him again when he starts chasing the new ones.

My question is: why he won’t accept the 2 new girls??? What is his rationale?? Does he see them as 2 new intruders and is trying to protect his flock? I thought I’d have a harder time with the girls being jealous and he would be happy to have 2 more to mate...

 

[aart]

why he won’t accept the 2 new girls??? What is his rationale?? Does he see them as 2 new intruders and is trying to protect his flock?

Hard to say.....maybe because they are older and won't submit to him(he is still fairly young).

So as of right now, I’m keeping him separated by a fence inside the run, so he can still see all
His girls and the 2 new ones. At night time, I’m putting him in the big coop with all the girls. In the am I go in the run and separate him again when he starts chasing the new ones.

How long have you been doing this?
Sounds like a pretty good technique, hopefully he calms down soon.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Daiene
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[Daiene]

Hard to say.....maybe because they are older and won't submit to him(he is still fairly young).

They have submitted to him. They squat down, he hops on them, but doesn’t mate, he pluck their feathers and pick her combs.

 

[Daiene]

How long have you been doing this?
Sounds like a pretty good technique, hopefully he calms down soon.

For 3 nights. I put him in the dark and watch him as the sun come ups in the morning using a camera I have in the coop. He looks at them on their perches but doesn’t do anything. When they all come down and out to the run, the new ones stay in. He goes in and out trying to chase them out. They come out and he goes on with his morning routine (grooming, patrolling the run) and then he starts chasing them. That is when I separate him for the day.

 

[Daiene]

For 3 nights. I put him in the dark and watch him as the sun come ups in the morning using a camera I have in the coop. He looks at them on their perches but doesn’t do anything. When they all come down and out to the run, the new ones stay in. He goes in and out trying to chase them out. They come out and he goes on with his morning routine (grooming, patrolling the run) and then he starts chasing them. That is when I separate him for the day.