New EEs (including Roo) just won’t integrate with flock

[Rob_red]

That means they are trying to kill him. You mentioned he's not quite right in different ways. Sometimes a flock will try to run off or kill a sick or injured chicken. It's an instinct since before they were domesticated. A sick or injured chicken can attract predators to the flock so they try to get rid of them. I still think you will need to get rid of one of those cockerels eventually. You may try isolating him from the flock for a few days and see how they act without him if you don't want to get rid of him now. Removing him from the equation would be my first step, I don't see how he is helping anything.

Do you have any tips for isolating him? Should I keep him in a dog crate far away from the flock? If this stresses him out will he settle down after a while?

Is just one hen instigating this? Sometimes one is the aggressor and the others follow her lead. If you can identify one as the ringleader try isolating her and see how the dynamics work out. If the rest can get long without her she may be the problem, not him. Sometimes if you can isolate her from the flock for a week or so, her behavior can change when you put her back. Sometimes, not always.

Yes! It's the hen who is lowest on the pecking order. I'm sure she does not want to go any lower. Also through out this her laying has been effected, she has had some wrinkly shells and has been laying in strange places. I'm sure she is stressed as well.

When my cockerels hit puberty it can get pretty wild. They fight some between themselves. They harass their sibling pullets. Eventually they interact with the mature hens and it can get more dramatic. But they work through all this and become responsible flock member when they mature. This often requires getting down to one male.

I agree and definitely expect to need to reduce to one rooster especially with only 4 hens. Even if they all got along, I don't want them to get over bred. My hens are still missing feathers on their backs from the last rooster. I would like to have a healthy ratio.

You've mentioned a few things that makes me feel your older cockerel will never fill those shoes. Start thinking of your younger cockerel as the candidate to take over. He may not make it either but he at least has a chance.

I feel the same, thank you for telling the reality of the situation. I will not let this become an unhealthy life for the flock as a whole even if means culling a bird for consumption. Thank you for the advice

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you have any tips for isolating him? Should I keep him in a dog crate far away from the flock? If this stresses him out will he settle down after a while?

Many people use a dog crate, just put it in a predator safe area. That's not always easy. How much will he settle down? I don't know.