We started off with 6 chicks over a year ago, all hens. In October, one of the hens got seriously broody, so we gave her some eggs to hatch. The result was girl (Pumpkin), one boy (Boo). Boo and Pumpkin have been with the rest of the flock since day 1.
Boo is, from what I read, a stellar rooster. He's always announcing where the food is. He breaks stuff up and gives it to the low chicken on the totem pole. When some of the girls head down to the garden, he comes behind me to shuttle them back in. If the flock separates in 2 while free ranging, he goes back and forth checking on each group. He's warned us of hawks, and was great at alerting us as a bobcat was ready to strike. He's the last one to eat. He checks on the broody hens. At first, all 6 of the older hens ignored him or chased him away. He's gentle with them, for the most part. He checks after the new chicks to make sure they're all there and everyone is OK. After a few scares from the local wildlife, most of them have come around, and will listen to him when he calls. He has not once attacked any of us.
But then there is Ash. Ash HATES Boo. With a capital H. Boo is not overly fond of her either. Ash has a big bald spot on top of her head because at some point when he mounted her, she adamantly refused and ripped herself out of his grasp. She constantly chases him away from food. Or just runs at him if she's in a cranky mood (which is often for her.) They've come to blows and full out battles (Boo's front may be permanently purple from Blue Kote treatment). She's not even the head hen! This has been going on for at least 3 months now, with no end in sight. He tries so hard. He'll find a worm and give it directly to Ash. She'll take it, then try to peck him.
I'm at a loss for what to do. I see advice to separate and allow them to "look but don't touch" but that seems to be more for new hens/roosters being integrated into the flock. Boo has been with everyone else Today there was another all out battle...his waddles are ripped up, her comb is bleeding.
Is my only option to re-home one of them? If so, which? Part of me says that Ash is bitchy with most of the rest of the flock (just not to this point), and Boo serves a purpose given that we live in a forest surrounded by predators. The other half says that Ash was here first, lays beautiful eggs, and if we keep Boo the problem will just arise with some other hen at a later date.
Boo is, from what I read, a stellar rooster. He's always announcing where the food is. He breaks stuff up and gives it to the low chicken on the totem pole. When some of the girls head down to the garden, he comes behind me to shuttle them back in. If the flock separates in 2 while free ranging, he goes back and forth checking on each group. He's warned us of hawks, and was great at alerting us as a bobcat was ready to strike. He's the last one to eat. He checks on the broody hens. At first, all 6 of the older hens ignored him or chased him away. He's gentle with them, for the most part. He checks after the new chicks to make sure they're all there and everyone is OK. After a few scares from the local wildlife, most of them have come around, and will listen to him when he calls. He has not once attacked any of us.
But then there is Ash. Ash HATES Boo. With a capital H. Boo is not overly fond of her either. Ash has a big bald spot on top of her head because at some point when he mounted her, she adamantly refused and ripped herself out of his grasp. She constantly chases him away from food. Or just runs at him if she's in a cranky mood (which is often for her.) They've come to blows and full out battles (Boo's front may be permanently purple from Blue Kote treatment). She's not even the head hen! This has been going on for at least 3 months now, with no end in sight. He tries so hard. He'll find a worm and give it directly to Ash. She'll take it, then try to peck him.
I'm at a loss for what to do. I see advice to separate and allow them to "look but don't touch" but that seems to be more for new hens/roosters being integrated into the flock. Boo has been with everyone else Today there was another all out battle...his waddles are ripped up, her comb is bleeding.
Is my only option to re-home one of them? If so, which? Part of me says that Ash is bitchy with most of the rest of the flock (just not to this point), and Boo serves a purpose given that we live in a forest surrounded by predators. The other half says that Ash was here first, lays beautiful eggs, and if we keep Boo the problem will just arise with some other hen at a later date.
