Help my roo is picking on one hen.

[treefrog95]

I have a mixed flock of birds. I have 13 hens and 1 roo. My roo is a silkie and I have various hens some bantum and some standord size. All my hens get along no bullies. My rooster seems to be trying to starve out one of my hens. She is a very timid orpington. He attacks her when she trys to eat or drink. I have two feeding stations away from each other but he will watch her and att h her wherever she is eating. It is better when they are free ranging. She keeps her distance and her only attempts to keep her from getting treats or fresh veggies I set out. I have separated him this morning and am trying to figure out how to break him of this?

 

[sourland]

Put up a sight barrier between the feeding stations. If his behavior continued, he would have to leave my flock.

 

[Ry27]

I agree with the sight barrier. That may help. If not, you may have to get a different rooster. Or just don't have a rooster at all, unless you want or need fertile eggs.

 

[treefrog95]

I do have a barriers. I have 2 coops I got a second coop when I added to my flock last year. The feeding stations are under each coop. I attached a picture do you think that is sufficient? He was not this way with her at first. It started about 4-6 months ago had has slowly gotten worse. He hasn't injured her just chases her away and pecks at her. But I am concerned she will become malnourished. He is not a young rooster about 2 years old. I was hoping the concensus would be that seperating him a few days would do the trick. I have another hen who has head feathers missing but she is a frizzy chchin bantum and I think she is just his favorite matting partner. I never see him bully anyone else. He is very kind to the others.

 

[Ry27]

Does she seem sick at all? Are any other hens picking on her too? Chickens tend to pick on weaker ones. Also if you have too, separate her from the rest of the flock with food so she can eat in peace. Make sure she drinks water too. If not you may have to use a syringe and give it by hand. Then put her back with the flock. Try this a couple times a day. If she seems injured separate her and monitor her. Give her electrolytes for chicks in her water and give her access to normal food. Also you can try putting fruit for her to peck at alone like watermelon, etc. at any time.

 

[FrostRanger]

You can certainly try separating him for a week or 2, but he may need to be invited to dinner. A rooster's job is to protect and take care of his hens and if they're needing protection from him he has no business being there. That said, a health check of the bullied hen wouldn't hurt but since it's been going on so long and it's just him who has a problem with her I doubt she's ill

 

[treefrog95]

Does she seem sick at all? Are any other hens picking on her too? Chickens tend to pick on weaker ones. Also if you have too, separate her from the rest of the flock with food so she can eat in peace. Make sure she drinks water too. If not you may have to use a syringe and give it by hand. Then put her back with the flock. Try this a couple times a day. If she seems injured separate her and monitor her. Give her electrolytes for chicks in her water and give her access to normal food. Also you can try putting fruit for her to peck at alone like watermelon, etc. at any time.

She will eat as long as he is not chasing her away from the food containers. She is healthy, not sick at all. None of the hens are picking on her or avoiding her. She hasn't lost weight, they free range most of the day and he doesn't bother her when they are free ranging, unless I'm giving treats then he trys to keep her away unless she is right next to me. I assume it's because I out rank him.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never had this problem, until now. But all my hens hate her. I am hatching out, and have started my cull list and she is on it. I have a second coop, and I think I am just going to put her in it, and see how the flock acts.

But if we get a new victim, he is soup.