Oh Geez..our established year old flock of 12 hens, 1 roo plymouth rock and our 4 month old 5 hens/2 roos just are not working... The hens are terrified..and won't go out of the coop into the yard with the older flock, and the two new roos are fussing and fighting. We isolated the two roos from each other and the flock. I see where many folks say "let them extablish a pecking order on their own". I fear that they won't eat and drink. It seems better for the hens if the new roos aren't there. Is my only option to give away the new roosters? Is there any hope?
Welcome , from Alabama. I'm fairly new to chickens , so I can't really help you. BUT, if you are in my area I'll take those roo's to go with my BR ladies.!!! I'm sure someone will chime in to help you !
th fighting will pass after a while because i have 5 roos and 4 hens in the same pen and they dont fight and the chickens will walk around as one big flock when they get used to beeing around each other
Hi Gail and welcome to BYC. Unless my math is skewed, you have a total of 17 hens and 3 roos. That's at least one roo too many, if you intend for them to all live together peacefully as a single flock. The hens will get overmated when those young roos mature and overmated hens are stressed out hens. For the most part you'll need to let them work out the pecking order. As long as there is no blood being drawn, it's best to let them sort it all out. I would suggest that you add another feeder and waterer where the youngin's have easy access to it, if you don't have that already. That way the older chickens won't starve the younger ones out while they work on the pecking order.
