Pecking order- Leave them be or intervene?

[Saltysteele]

give him a place to retreat to. if he's the only banty, maybe a box or section of the pen where the others are too big to get into. if he's able to get away, he should eventually work his way in on his own (hopefully - fingers crossed

)

 

[Missymac]

I currently have 4 rooster not raised together at various ages and they all get along fine now. It was a bit hairy at first with 2 of them for about a week, but now, they live in harmony.

 

[janinepeters]

I would not introduce a bantam rooster in the that small a space, where there is already a rooster who has only 6 hens. Confinement in such a situation must be terrifying for him. He is an underdog, being so small, and a lone newcomer...He will be beaten badly. Ask yourself how you would like to be him in that situation. Frankly I think it would be more humane to put him down.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
Couldn't agree more. Beaten badly if not just killed outright, very dangerous situation for the little guy. He needs his own pen and his own hens.

I also agree with 7L Farm. I tried introducing just one new hen into my small established flock. It was brutal and they nearly killed her except that I intervened. There was blood everywhere, her comb was nearly ripped off and I could see her skull. This was even after sharing a fenceline and being penned next to them for over 3 months. They never did accept her and she now lives in my barn next to them with a little bantam buddy. They do free range ok but they won't allow her in the coop. I will never attempt to intro a single new bird ever again.

 

[daniel-delarosa]

Well, I let him out of the little cage to give it another try. Big roo started acting stupid again, but luckily I had the water hose in hand and gave him a good douching. After that, all was well. They all are getting along like the banty was there all along. I was bbqing all day yesterday and was watching them out of the corner of my eye.