Hens attacking new rooster. Bloody feet!

[bre113]

I introduced two new roosters to my flock last night while the hens were roosting, to give them a little time to check out the pen without the hens around (they roost in the box at night). Came out this morning and the roosters feet were all bloody. Caught a hen pecking them. Took the roosters back out. What do I do now?!?

 

[Eggcessive]

It is always best to slowly introduce chickens through fencing to separate the two groups while they see and smell each other for a week or two. If you coop is large enough you can block off the rear of it, and keep the two roosters inside 24/7 for a week. That will teach them to go in at night as well as introduce them slowly. I would spray some BluKote on the bloody feet to cover any red areas to reduce pecking. Below is a portable pen with different size bars for different ages. I cover this with bird netting to keep newbies in while keeping others out. Zip ties work great to attack plastic chicken wire to the sides or for bird netting on top.

 

[bre113]

Thank you! They were in a pen right beside them first. I noticed after separating them again the roosters were pecking their own feet. I saw one hen pecking them while they were all together, so I know they didn't do it all themselves. I cleaned them up, fed them (I usually only feed in the evenings but they were out) and placed the roosters and hens back together with fresh food, and corn spread out along the ground, to kind of occupy them and they haven't been pecking themselves or each other. This is my first breed with feathers on their legs. They are brahmas. All the feathers have been pecked out up to about 1/2" below their body. I'm hoping this will fix it! If I see anymore pecking, I will put them in the desperate pen and move it into the pen with the hens for a while