My Aseel hen keeps beating my new Aseel rooster

[Aayan Mirza]

I bought 5 chickens about 2 weeks back. 4 are still in their pullet/cockerel stage (3 pullets, 1 rooster) and of different breeds. Out of those original five was one Aseel/Asil hen, full grown. Since I am new to it, I put them all together in my coop. The Asil hen kept pecking at the younger birds, and didn't spare anyone. Thankfully I have two portions in my coop, and I quickly separated the Asil hen from other birds.

The hen otherwise is the sweetest. She lets me pick her up, doesn't get too bothered by my presence and even takes treats from my hand. She would squat as I would come to pick her up, and this made me realise that she needs a rooster, as squatting is one of the signs that your hen is ready to mate, or mature enough to lay eggs.

So I brought her an Aseel rooster yesterday. Bigger in size and age. But boy, oh boy, it was one hell of a night. Just as I put the rooster down in the coop, the hen started pecking him, the beating got so worse that she had cornered the rooster and was constantly pecking him, to the point that the rooster, was although standing in his corner, but had stopped moving, and was as if he had accepted his fate and was ready to die.

But thankfully there is a divider in that portion and I separated the two after they seemed hopeless together.

They are separate since, can see each other, the hen even tries to peck at him even through the metal divider but he is safe. So this morning, I only let the new Aseel rooster free range, so that the hen could see him and calm the hell down seeing him in light, and in normal environment. Interestingly the same rooster kept going towards the side of the Asil hen, and doing the typical rooster dance. So I thought, the rooster is ready, he is in open now, can defend himself much better than that closed quarters scenario, the hen is ready to mate too and so I let the hen loose. The moment she got out she lept at the rooster and started attcking him again. The rooster although defended himself a little, but in the end gave up and ran to the other side of the house. He stayed there till I put the hen back in coop. There seems to be no hope. What should I do? I don't want to slaughter them. The rooster is beautiful and I bought the hen for her brooding abilities. The rooster is also missing few feathers at the back of his neck, and also had a healed wound on head. But it's all healed. No blood in sight which might be triggering it. Kindly help. Also how much time would it take for him to grow the missing feathers back.

 

[Rickba]

Good for her!!!!! lol. Seriously, when I introduce a new chicken I do it at night while they're sleeping. When they wake up there's just a new bird in the coop. The pecking order has to be adjusted. But that's normal. They'll work it out.

 

[SeaPolka]

I bought 5 chickens about 2 weeks back. 4 are still in their pullet/cockerel stage (3 pullets, 1 rooster) and of different breeds. Out of those original five was one Aseel/Asil hen, full grown. Since I am new to it, I put them all together in my coop. The Asil hen kept pecking at the younger birds, and didn't spare anyone. Thankfully I have two portions in my coop, and I quickly separated the Asil hen from other birds.

The hen otherwise is the sweetest. She lets me pick her up, doesn't get too bothered by my presence and even takes treats from my hand. She would squat as I would come to pick her up, and this made me realise that she needs a rooster, as squatting is one of the signs that your hen is ready to mate, or mature enough to lay eggs.

So I brought her an Aseel rooster yesterday. Bigger in size and age. But boy, oh boy, it was one hell of a night. Just as I put the rooster down in the coop, the hen started pecking him, the beating got so worse that she had cornered the rooster and was constantly pecking him, to the point that the rooster, was although standing in his corner, but had stopped moving, and was as if he had accepted his fate and was ready to die.

But thankfully there is a divider in that portion and I separated the two after they seemed hopeless together.

They are separate since, can see each other, the hen even tries to peck at him even through the metal divider but he is safe. So this morning, I only let the new Aseel rooster free range, so that the hen could see him and calm the hell down seeing him in light, and in normal environment. Interestingly the same rooster kept going towards the side of the Asil hen, and doing the typical rooster dance. So I thought, the rooster is ready, he is in open now, can defend himself much better than that closed quarters scenario, the hen is ready to mate too and so I let the hen loose. The moment she got out she lept at the rooster and started attcking him again. The rooster although defended himself a little, but in the end gave up and ran to the other side of the house. He stayed there till I put the hen back in coop. There seems to be no hope. What should I do? I don't want to slaughter them. The rooster is beautiful and I bought the hen for her brooding abilities. The rooster is also missing few feathers at the back of his neck, and also had a healed wound on head. But it's all healed. No blood in sight which might be triggering it. Kindly help. Also how much time would it take for him to grow the missing feathers back.

Asil hens are usually pretty mean to cockerels, especially when they're pullets. I let my game free range and there's still a fair amount of arguments. Mine are 15 weeks. I put my Ayam Cemani cockerel in and he keeps everything in check, gradually been taking him out and the hens seem to understand that they're all the same. Feathers will grow back as fast as any other chicken with the correct supplements. Sorry I'm not an expert but this is just my experience, apologies if it's no help. Good luck

 

[Chickassan]

You are going to have to keep the fella separate but within sight for a few weeks, that way the hens can get used to him and his feathers can regrow. Even when you do let them be together she still might peck him if he's young and hasn't passed her ideal of a worthy male. How old is he anyway? The way you describe your hens behavior he sounds young.

 

[Scratchychiken]

I agree with what the others are saying. He just needs to grow his confidence.
Obviously it also depends on the rooster's behavior and the hen's behavior. my rooster is about half a year younger than even my most feisty girl, but he has the attitude to back himself up. I hope you will be able to get them to all get along. Best wishes.

 

[Aayan Mirza]

Good for her!!!!! lol. Seriously, when I introduce a new chicken I do it at night while they're sleeping. When they wake up there's just a new bird in the coop. The pecking order has to be adjusted. But that's normal. They'll work it out.

Haha thanks.

 

[Aayan Mirza]

Asil hens are usually pretty mean to cockerels, especially when they're pullets. I let my game free range and there's still a fair amount of arguments. Mine are 15 weeks. I put my Ayam Cemani cockerel in and he keeps everything in check, gradually been taking him out and the hens seem to understand that they're all the same. Feathers will grow back as fast as any other chicken with the correct supplements. Sorry I'm not an expert but this is just my experience, apologies if it's no help. Good luck

Anything is a help. Thank you so much. I think they will work it out with time.

 

[Aayan Mirza]

You are going to have to keep the fella separate but within sight for a few weeks, that way the hens can get used to him and his feathers can regrow. Even when you do let them be together she still might peck him if he's young and hasn't passed her ideal of a worthy male. How old is he anyway? The way you describe your hens behavior he sounds young.

Thank you. Will applying this divide and peace method. He is about 9 months old, that's what the shopkeeper told me. And the Asil hen apparently younger.

 

[Chickassan]

They will work it out but yikes that fella has a heck of a road to walk. I'm rooting for him.

 

[Aayan Mirza]

I agree with what the others are saying. He just needs to grow his confidence.
Obviously it also depends on the rooster's behavior and the hen's behavior. my rooster is about half a year younger than even my most feisty girl, but he has the attitude to back himself up. I hope you will be able to get them to all get along. Best wishes.

Thank you so much. Will wait and see.