Outcast Chicken

[Katkumo]

One of my broody hens hatched out some chicks this summer - 5 roosters and one hen. Typical, right? lol I have one rooster and the one hen still with my flock, these two are siblings, and right at 6 months old now. The rooster is shunning the new young hen, natures way of preventing inbreeding maybe, but she is not allowed to eat the feed I put out, with everyone else, she's just not one of his flock. They free range the rest of the day, but I do get concerned that he will continue to shun her indefinitely. She is also not laying eggs yet.

Usually, the hen who is at the bottom of the pecking order eventually finds her way into the group, but in this case, I'm not sure that will happen.

Anyone more experienced in this situation? I would love to hear what you all think about this, if she'll end up coexisting ok, or if it would be better for her, and everyone else, to find her another home.

Thank you in advance!

 

[sourland]

Make sure that she is getting enough to eat and drink - multiple feed and water stations can assure that this is happening. Once she is mature his attitude will change towards her.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, I have 15 birds, and have 3 feed stations set up, so as if a bird is eating at one station, they are pretty much out of sight of the other two stations.

Pullets are generally a sub flock until they start to lay. With just one pullet, she will be by herself, most of the time till she lays.

 

[Katkumo]

These chickens free range most of the day, I'm not concerned as much about her eating. She just gets shunned from the feeder I have out to supplement their grazing. My question was more about - will she ever filter in to a flock where the rooster can't and won't mate with her?

 

[Mrs. K]

When she begins to lay, she will be accepted into the flock. At that time the rooster will mate with her, he has no understanding of social taboos.

 

[aart]

My question was more about - will she ever filter in to a flock where the rooster can't and won't mate with her?

Which 'rooster'?
Her 'brother', also hatched under the broody...or her 'daddy'??
How old is the broody hatched pullet?
Am a bit confused about who is who here....and if there are other birds involved.

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Katkumo]

Which 'rooster'?
Her 'brother', also hatched under the broody...or her 'daddy'??
How old is the broody hatched pullet?
Am a bit confused about who is who here....and if there are other birds involved.

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

The rooster is her brother. They are 6 months old. She is not laying eggs yet.

 

[Acre4Me]

We have 14 chickens aged 43 weeks (about 10 months). 6 breeds, all same hatch date from same small hatchery. 2 cockerels.

One cockerel is the head of the flock. This cockerel seemed to hate one breed (3 pullets). He would chase them away from food and water. To the point where 2 of them were relegated to the coop nearly 24/7. We already had food in 2 locations, but spread them farther apart as the cockerel only seemed to Patrol the one location the most.

So, one (only one) has been laying of this breed, and she’s accepted in the flock. The only reason the other two of this breed are less harassed is because they are no longer lowest in pecking order as we have 14wo chicks, so some of them are at the bottom now. However, those chicks are not/have not been as harrassed and attacked like the previously mentioned pullets, maybe because they were raised by a momma hen.

 

[aart]

The rooster is her brother. They are 6 months old. She is not laying eggs yet.

Not unusual for a young cockerel to keep others away from food,
is unusual for them not to try to mate(a good thing actually).
Is there an older male in the flock too?
If anything I would separate the young cockerel.

 

[Katkumo]

We have 14 chickens aged 43 weeks (about 10 months). 6 breeds, all same hatch date from same small hatchery. 2 cockerels.

One cockerel is the head of the flock. This cockerel seemed to hate one breed (3 pullets). He would chase them away from food and water. To the point where 2 of them were relegated to the coop nearly 24/7. We already had food in 2 locations, but spread them farther apart as the cockerel only seemed to Patrol the one location the most.

So, one (only one) has been laying of this breed, and she’s accepted in the flock. The only reason the other two of this breed are less harassed is because they are no longer lowest in pecking order as we have 14wo chicks, so some of them are at the bottom now. However, those chicks are not/have not been as harrassed and attacked like the previously mentioned pullets, maybe because they were raised by a momma hen.

This story is helpful, thank you so very much!!! Gotta love that pecking order, lol.