Please Help! Rooster Targets One Hen... At My Wits End...

[Lady Lara]

Hello! I saw the similar posts but here are our particular details:
I have 6 hens that were all babies together almost 2 years ago. 3 are black sex links and 3 are lavender orpingtons. 1 of the orpingtons (Maggie) was smaller than the rest from the start, and even had her comb damaged early on, but was able to hold her own and has stayed in good standing with the other hens. My hens are all gentle and sweet natured... good chickens with different personalities and traits (Kandy is the fastest, Michonne the biggest/the loner, Dreamfyre is my bestie)... Ever since Maggie was injured as a young bird she has especially bonded with my husband and I. None of this has posed any issue, as far as I know. We introduced a young rooster about six months ago (for safety for the hens and to adopt the poor guy who was in need of rehoming due to being bullied by other roosters elsewhere). We introduced him slowly and separately per advice on this site, and over time he adjusted and moved in with the girls. He started mating with them after a while and although they were annoyed they seem to be drawn to him most of the time... all was good! He doesn't attack any of them in any other way, or us. He seems to protect and help them the way I understand a roo should. Well, he's now fully grown, HUGE, and SUPER horny. He used to only chase after them in the morning and evening, now it's throughout the day, and he's CONSTANTLY after poor Maggie. He tries for the other orpingtons but can't always catch them, and almost never the black sex links. Maggie is constantly terrified! She wants to hide in the box in the henhouse all day. We thought it was because she's molting and he must be hurting her. We tried saddles... no good. We separated them (Don Juan D'Clucko, the rooster) stays in the large chicken cage/run so Maggie can be out and with her sisters, but the minute I let him out he targets her and she gets tagged before making her way back to the box. As far as I can see he's not especially violent! He only takes a sec, but she's small and he's huge, and she's just over it. I love them both and don't want to give any of them up. Do I just keep him locked up in the large caged area and hope this passes? It's been a month or so now, and she seems to be done molting. I'm at my wits end, so is Maggie, and I have no idea how to resolve this. Please, any help is appreciated. Thanks so much. - Lara

 

[azygous]

First off we need to determine if this rooster is mating the hens with their consent or if he's thrusting himself on them in an aggressive way.

You need to watch his interaction with the hens and with this small hen in particular. It happens very subtly, but right before a rooster commences mating, the hen presents herself by squatting in position to be mated. This consent occurs so quickly, it's very easy to assume the rooster is pouncing on the hen. This is normal and equitable behavior.

What is not normal is when a rooster chases a hen around the run against her wishes, and when he catches up to her, you may see him bite and injure her. When this type of aggression takes place, the hen more often than not does not get mated because she hasn't given consent.

This distinction is important. If the rooster is mating the hens vigorously, it may still be within normal parameters. But when mating often does not happen due to a violently aggressive rooster, it's time to consider removing him from the flock before a hen gets severely injured or killed.

 

[Mrs. K]

IMO roosters take more room than hens. Often times when the flock is disruptive, fighting and not getting along - space is the issue. Some birds can take over crowding better than others, some cannot tolorate it at all.

Personally, I hate discord in my flock, and solve for a peaceful flock. Fighting just ruins the whole experience for me. Sometimes you get birds that just do not get along. I know you love both of them, but considering the flock as a whole might be a better solution.

So, either, pen the rooster, or pen the victim, or cull one of the birds.

Several years ago, there was a post from a respected poster on her, who kept a victim hen separated in a cage from the flock for months. She was seen, but protected. She could eat and sleep in peace. She eventually got stronger, and rejoined the flock. I don't know if she became the victim again.

Watch your flock, does the flock seem calm and happy with the victim out of the flock? Or does the flock feel better when the rooster is out of the flock.

What I think they are telling you, regardless, is that you have too many birds for your set up. I think there might be a lot of tension in your flock, even with the birds that are not being attacked, consider strongly letting one of the two go - either the victim or the bully.

Mrs K