Mean to the new guy...

[Trevorusn]

Say hello to Stang, our new 8 week old Faverolle cockerel! Stang is a handsome, friendly guy who has a problem...the ladies bully him. The farm that we got him from, he was bullied in the chick run by mostly Ameraucanas and EEs, and he has many back feathers missing. Now our 8 girls are about 13ish weeks old and quite chummy with each other, however they are not quite so with Stang. In particular, our ISA Browns, the oldest of the now 9 birds, are nasty, one or two even pinching the top of his neck. He also has a red peck mark in front of his comb, not sure if he got it here or at his previous home. When they all free range they chase him away, less so when I am around. He eats it seems only when I am around, but at night they all cuddle with each other seemingly without issues. Will this behavior settle down after he has been in the flock for a bit and gets older? Also adding a 16 week old Light Brahma roo next week, and plans are in the works for a much larger coop/run. And before it is asked, I want roos for their looks and for flock defense. So far only predators that seem rare to nonexistent on/near our land are snakes and weasels. Most everything else we get in one form or another. Is Stang, being a youngster and Faverolle, always going to have the deck stacked against him??? Any info or advice is most appreciated!

 

[Sagey_7878]

Wow, I love your idea! I’ve had this problem before where the hens bullied the cockerel but this is only due to his AGE. My suggestion to you (this is what I did and it worked) is to put the roo by itself and let it grow bigger and older (he is only 8 weeks so I’d say put him back with the hens when he is 16 weeks) he’ll be much more mature, bigger, dominant, stronger and he should be crowing by then. You also said you’re adding another rooster, yikes! I hope the 2 boys don’t fight. My suggestion is do not put the 2 boys together until Stang is about 16 weeks old. I’m assuming you’ll be putting the new roo with the hens, he is older so he will establish the flock as his own. Once you introduce Stang, there should be fighting sadly. Hopefully it’s not too serious.

 

[Trevorusn]

Wow, I love your idea! I’ve had this problem before where the hens bullied the cockerel but this is only due to his AGE. My suggestion to you (this is what I did and it worked) is to put the roo by itself and let it grow bigger and older (he is only 8 weeks so I’d say put him back with the hens when he is 16 weeks) he’ll be much more mature, bigger, dominant, stronger and he should be crowing by then. You also said you’re adding another rooster, yikes! I hope the 2 boys don’t fight. My suggestion is do not put the 2 boys together until Stang is about 16 weeks old. I’m assuming you’ll be putting the new roo with the hens, he is older so he will establish the flock as his own. Once you introduce Stang, there should be fighting sadly. Hopefully it’s not too serious.

Not sure what ratio of hen/roo works yet, but we plan on making a new coop with room in case we slightly increase the flock further. I don't want the roos being overwhelmed by the hens. If age is the only factor that makes me feel better, at least it means this behavior won't be permanent it seems.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Not sure what ratio of hen/roo works yet, but we plan on making a new coop with room in case we slightly increase the flock further. I don't want the roos being overwhelmed by the hens. If age is the only factor that makes me feel better, at least it means this behavior won't be permanent it seems.

Yep won’t be permanent, just need to let the roo grow bigger.

 

[aart]

So 9 pullets that are 13weeks old
and now 1 cockerel that is 8 week old
and you're going to add another cockerel that's 16 weeks old??!?
I hope you have 3 separate but adjacent coop/runs setup,
because that sounds like a newbies chicken math nightmare.
2 males with 8 females could be a disaster.

Say hello to Stang, our new 8 week old Faverolle cockerel! Stang is a handsome, friendly guy who has a problem...the ladies bully him.

This is an integration issue.

but we plan on making a new coop with room in case we slightly increase the flock further.

How much coop and run space, in feet by feet with pics, do you have now?


Here's some tips and links you should read before adding any more birds...
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Trevorusn]

So 9 pullets that are 13weeks old
and now 1 cockerel that is 8 week old
and you're going to add another cockerel that's 16 weeks old??!?
I hope you have 3 separate but adjacent coop/runs setup,
because that sounds like a newbies chicken math nightmare.
2 males with 8 females could be a disaster.


This is an integration issue.



How much coop and run space, in feet by feet with pics, do you have now?


Here's some tips and links you should read before adding any more birds...
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Today was a bit better. He goes into the coop while the hens are in the run, and he has the run while they free range. He also has a roosy bar he uses a lot. So far no fresh blood or bare patches, I inspect daily. I plan on getting the same coop now and adding them together with a covered/divided go between. Its a temp solution while we figure out how the permanent coop layout will look like. The Browns are the aggressors, the BJGs and Black Star occasionally peck then leave him be.

 

[aart]

Its a temp solution while we figure out how the permanent coop layout will look like.

Better figure it out fast, that boy will be mounting in another month or so.
...and the 16wo cockerel that you plan to add will be already going at it.

 

[123RedBeard]

I'd skip the 2nd cockrell ... just gonna be TROUBLE, for you, AND the chickens!

Having two boys that hatch and grow up together, with 9 girls, is sometimes possible, not always ...

Or a chick raised up with "Papa cock" ... who learns from a very young age how all things chicken work ... can sometimes work ...

Forcing two young hormonal cockrells together with the prize too the top cock, of nine young pullets will be a blood bath! AND possibly a dead chicken!

And ... I agree with Aart.

 

[Trevorusn]

Well, all things considered I will hold off on the second cockerel for now, and address the current issue then first. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Trevorusn]

A little update. This is Stang today, doing great.

This is his slightly older flockmate Ruger. For me, it seems the best success occured with introducing a new bird while the flock is free ranging. Doing this has led to a blood-free integration of 2 cockerels into my flock. They all sleep together great in the coop at night, and give each other little trouble during the day. Stang still has his bouts of adolescent rambunctiousness, but seems every week to get a bit steadier and calmer in his behavior as he ages. The hens only peck him now mostly when he bungles his attempts at "love", lol. He will stand down all but 2 of my Browns, my Black sex link and Ruger. Ruger, however, has been awesome as a steady, stable leader, only a wee bit older than Stang but quite different in personality. Just figured to update and pass on what for me has been a pretty good experience of introducing new birds into an established flock.