My evil hen wont stop attacking my rooster!!!

[margaret1657]

So i have a flock of twenty chickens, there are 6 isa browns (golden comets) that are over a year old, so of course it was awful introducing them to my younger 14 chickens that i got back in the spring, including a rooster. The 14 new chickens including the rooster are all about 22 weeks old. I haven't had much of any problems anymore with the hens getting along with eachother, just the occasional squabble. But the problem is with the older chickens (isa browns) and the rooster. All 6 will chase after my poor rooster and hurt him, especially this one that seems to be the ring leader. She especially will go at him all the time and she is very persistent. The other day i saw her chasing him around the yard and beating him up and i checked on him and his comb and wattles were literally dripping blood!!!! I have had it with this hen and i just can't seem to get her to stop!!!! she just seems to attack ALL the time for no apparent reason. He doesn't mate too excessively or do anything to the point where she would have any kind of reason to hurt him, hes a really sweet rooster and i hate seeing him being beaten up like this. What should i do????? (I have attached a pic of the evil hen and the rooster in case anyone is curious)

 

[rjohns39]

I wish I could offer advise... I've seen hens beat up on roosters--but not like you have described. Best Guess!!! And I do mean Guess! Give him time to get the girls under control. If that doesn't work, then you're facing a really hard choice.

 

[bobbi-j]

First of all, your "rooster" is still a cockerel. He's immature and has not earned her respect. Having said that, there may be other factors to consider. It does sound like her aggressiveness toward him is excessive. How much coop space and run space do your chickens have (in feet by feet)? Do they get a chance to free range? Are there any hiding places in your run for your cockerel to get out if her line of sight? You may also want to consider separating her for a week or two if you can, to maybe reset her place in the pecking order.

 

[margaret1657]

First of all, your "rooster" is still a cockerel. He's immature and has not earned her respect. Having said that, there may be other factors to consider. It does sound like her aggressiveness toward him is excessive. How much coop space and run space do your chickens have (in feet by feet)? Do they get a chance to free range? Are there any hiding places in your run for your cockerel to get out if her line of sight? You may also want to consider separating her for a week or two if you can, to maybe reset her place in the pecking order.

Our chickens free range 12 hours a day, they are usually never in the run, which also does have plenty of space (about maybe 150 sq feet), but again thats irrelevant since they rarely are ever kept in just the run. Maybe i could try separating her, it just seems like she feels that her only purpose is to hurt him and chase him and it's driving me crazy!

 

[junebuggena]

She's the boss and he is still too young to really earn her respect. Honestly, battle ax hens like that in the flock tend to be your best ally in raising well behaved roosters. Comb injuries bleed like crazy, but usually look worse they they are. Give the hens some time to adjust to the new flock and give your cockerel some time to mature.