New to forums and new to chickens with a question:)

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You might want to post pictures of the new birds in the What Breed/Gender forum for help with figuring out what you have. https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this It doesn't mean the new bird is a cockerel, it may just be your roo feels safest beating up the smallest bird. When you add new birds it is best to have a long period of the two sets being able to see each other but no touching, through wire seem to work best, ie dividing the coop into two sections or keeping one set in a cage inside the coup for a couple of weeks to a month at least. The chickens will get to know each other and sort of work out a pecking order before actually coming in contact with each other. After a week or two, letting them free range together is a good idea and should help... It will take a couple of weeks to get the pecking order sorted out. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating flocks you might like to check out, the part about actually combining them is after the quarantine section https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Kelsie2290 has given you some good advice. You need to get more hens if you intend to keep that cockerel. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. Too many roosters will be very aggressive on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially seriously injuring them. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10 hens in that regard. I currently have 25 hens and no roosters, and I get loads of eggs without all the aggression, fights, crowning in the middle of the night, biting and feather plucking, over-breeding and battering that goes along with having roosters (especially too many). My hens are stress free and enjoying life without a rooster. Another important question is do your chickens have enough coop space. The recommended minimum floor area for the coop is 4 sq. ft. per bird (more is better), and if they are kept in an enclosed run, the minimum recommended ground area for the run is 10 sq. ft. per bird (again more is better). Over-crowding quickly leads to aggression, fights, biting and feather plucking, and even serious injuries. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in solving your rooster problem.

 

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2 on Kelsie and Michael's great advice.

 

Welcome !! Love to see new members !! All for the love of chickens