My Buff Orpington Rooster is being mean to some of my hens?

[peanuts flock]

Hello everyone, I am new to BYC but have a concern about my Backyard flock.

I have about a 2 year old Buff Orpie Rooster with 10 assorted hens. He is keeping two 9 month old Barred Rock hens from eating or doing really anything but sit on top of the coop. Also, three of my hens are about 16 week old Americanas which the rooster chases and pecks some (not enough to injure them).

The two Barred Rocks combs have been bleeding and they are not very happy. I have only had them with the rest of my flock for about 2 weeks now. These girls are very scared.

Does anyone have suggestions on what i can do, short of kicking my roo out of the run?

 

[bigdawg]

eat the rooster. l.o.l. i feel like the rooster is protecting the flock. he thinks the smaller pullets are going to harm the hens. and the one hen he is bothering i just dont know. never had a rooster bother a hen, just the smaller new ones. if you can try to remove them for few days then put them back in the coop way after dark. that way when they wake up the next morning he will think they all belong and not bother them.

 

[ella]

Just have to wait. Once they start laying he will accept them. The boys are all about the laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This article on integrating flocks is the best I have read. It might help.

Buff Hooligan’s Adding to your flock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

As long as he is not hurting the 16 week olds, I would not worry about it. Do watch for signs of injury, but it is probably their in-between chicks and hens age that is confusing him.

If the 9 month olds are bleeding, they need to be separated from the flock at least until they heal. A good rooster will protect every member of his flock. Not all roosters are good, but he is showing he has not accepted those two as members of his flock, so he is protecting the rest of the flock from them. I'd suggest housing them next to the rest of the flock with only wire separating them for a week or so. Throw scratch or some treats on the ground where they eat next to each other but are separated by the fence. Maybe put a couple of hens in with them for a day or two, then try integrating them.

Maybe you can get better ideas from Buff's article. Good luck!