I have six assorted hens. Four are my original flock were raised together from peeps. The other 2 are new additions from a much larger flock with multiple roosters. So, I have a fairly large fenced in chicken yard with a medium sized coop and run with free access to the yard and a small coop and run also with free access to the yard. I had kept the two new hens in the small coop as a way of introducing them using the see but no touch method (had closed off access to the yard). After a while I just opened the run and allowed them to decide when they wanted to join the rest of the flock. Well, one has integrated really well with the rest of the flock and the other one has been really aggressive. The two new girls still nest and roost in the small coop, though the nice one seems conflicted about not roosting with the rest of the flock. And, the "mean girl" has started acting like she's a roo! She tries to mount some of the rest of the flock and they squat all the way to the ground like they think she's a roo too. She's not too bad unless there are treats being given, but now I go into the yard and supervise when I give treats. So, since I cannot have roos in the city limits, would denying them access to the small coop, forcing them to fully integrate help with her aggression? Or, do you think she will take on a even more of the role of rooster? If that is, indeed, the behavior I'm seeing. Only thing I've seen on this behavior, they simply put the hen in with real roosters and that resolved the issue right away.
