New rooster upsetting my hens to the point of attack? Help?

[cackydoodledoo]

The other night when I went to gather eggs I found one of my RIR hens dead in the coop. I don't go in the coop in the mornings but know that she was perfectly fine the evening before. This has happened and my spotted sussex has half the feathers missing off her head. Some of the others are looking pretty haggard as well. I have unfortunately had a buff hen that decided to be a rooster and he has just figured out that he is a boy and is proceeding to show everyone he is. Needless to say several of my hens don't like it and proceed to peck him and chase him off. Is it possible that he is upsetting my hens and this has caused all the turmoil in the coop?

 

[BooBear]

Your girls may not be ready yet for those kind of advances.
Try seperating the rooster into a cage where he is still visible to the girls and watch the reaction. If the girls calm down and the rucas stops then you know for sure he is causing the turmoil; however, if the rucas continues, you need to watch to see who the instegator is. It could be a hen trying to move up the pecking order.

Hope you can get them sorted without any further loses.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I found a new home for the rooster but decided against it because I found two hens dead and him attacking a third one. I am pretty sure he is responsible for the other two killings. I couldn't bear giving him to someone else and then him killing their hens. Took him back to the guy I got him from and he traded me out for another hen. The rooster will real shortly become someone's dinner and a good one he will be because he was a huge bird!!! Think my girls were real happy to see him go.

 

[sourland]

Well done.