Pullet keeps fighting cockerel, advice needed

[aliciaFarmer]

It's a pecking order situation. The more you remove and try to introduce her the worse things will become. Others in the flock, as you have noted, will start attacking her. As brutal as it may sound a fight until submission by one bird or separate pens are most likely the only solutions.

When one bird ends up bloody, I'm afraid I will have to disagree. Normal pecking and attitude, yes. Bloody wounds and just leaving her there, no.

They are currently separated.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

Actually, the person I got my cockerel from had given another one to a friend of hers she did not do a proper integration and the hens ended up killing the cockerel. He was about 4-5 months old. So, it is definitely possible.

They have been properly and fully integrated for about two and a half months, and mingled part time before that for a couple of weeks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

They have been properly and fully integrated for about two and a half months, and mingled part time before that for a couple of weeks.

Yes. I read that. My response was quoting aart.
We can all continue to guess why chickens do chicken things and not what we want them too. I think Sharach wrote a good response.
If we could think like a chicken, we might be able to figure out why they don't follow the suggestions and "rules" of chicken keeping.

 

[Saaniya]

They have been totally separated since this went down several days ago. Yesterday I tried to reintegrate her and that didn't work out so they are separated again. I typically give them extra protein 2 or 3 days a week (eggs, peas, meat) but with everything that's been going on, it's been 3 or 4 days. I will definitely do that today, thank you!

For few days just avoid meat especially raw because meat cause a bit aggressive Behavior

 

[aliciaFarmer]

Yes. I read that. My response was quoting aart.
We can all continue to guess why chickens do chicken things and not what we want them too. I think Sharach wrote a good response.
If we could think like a chicken, we might be able to figure out why they don't follow the suggestions and "rules" of chicken keeping.

My apologies for the misunderstanding.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

For few days just avoid meat especially raw because meat cause a bit aggressive Behavior

I've never even considered giving them raw meat. Do people do that? I'm totally cracking up at myself over here having never thought of such things. Obviously they don't cook their meat out in the wild.

I will give it a few more days. Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Yes, chickens have been known to kill one another. However, it's usually due to extenuating circumstances such as too many chickens being confined in too small an area that lacks sufficient day time perches of varying heights and partitions to help break up spaces to create a more complex environment which helps stave off boredom. (That sentence wore me out writing it, so you are probably worn out reading it.)

Young cockerels are no more or less susceptible to pecking order challenges than any other chicken. In fact, older hens are quick to notice a cockerel suddenly developing interest in mating, and they will be quick to remind him that they are not impressed with an inexperienced, cocky little twerp.

I have a pop and son combo and there are still hens that will chase and peck the younger one, who is no longer a cockerel by the way, just to let him know that she prefers his pop over him. He gives no indication that these frequent reminders by the hens that he's second best is something that he wishes to challenge, probably because his pop also reminds him that he's still a second rate punk.

You're going to drive yourself crazy trying to referee your flock's pecking order issues. As long as you have provided adequate space for the flock, at least ten square feet of run space per bird, you need to let the chickens work things out. They understand much better than we do what their social order rules are, and they will usually work things out very efficiently if we don't constantly interfere.

On the issue of an occasional injury with blood, that's also normal. I will gather up the chicken with the injury, usually a minor bite on the comb which can bleed heavily and appear much worse than it is, and wash it and coat it with Blu-kote and return them immediately to the flock. The longer an injured chicken is kept out of the flock, the worse it will be for them when returned.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My apologies for the misunderstanding.

No need to apologize. I misread your first post thinking the cockerel was the one injured. Otherwise, I would not have commented on this thread.
Flock dynamics seem to be ever evolving and once you get it figured out, it will change.

 

[Shadrach]

I’m with @azygous on this one.
I don’t separate chickens because of behavior problems unless I know they are never going to return to the flock.
It seems people separate because they are worried about the injuries and the fighting and the stress of it all. In my experience separation just postpones a problem. Eventually these two are going to have to work things out if they are going to live together. If it takes a bit of blood and snot to do it then so be it. Patch up the wounded but most of all, make sure the loser has the space to escape the aggressor.
1000 sq feet sounds a lot; it isn’t for 33 chickens, it’s about the bare minimum.
There is a possible instant solution and that would be to free range them. I assume none of the runs are covered at that size and you say you’re not short of land.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

Yes, chickens have been known to kill one another. However, it's usually due to extenuating circumstances such as too many chickens being confined in too small an area that lacks sufficient day time perches of varying heights and partitions to help break up spaces to create a more complex environment which helps stave off boredom. (That sentence wore me out writing it, so you are probably worn out reading it.)

Young cockerels are no more or less susceptible to pecking order challenges than any other chicken. In fact, older hens are quick to notice a cockerel suddenly developing interest in mating, and they will be quick to remind him that they are not impressed with an inexperienced, cocky little twerp.

I have a pop and son combo and there are still hens that will chase and peck the younger one, who is no longer a cockerel by the way, just to let him know that she prefers his pop over him. He gives no indication that these frequent reminders by the hens that he's second best is something that he wishes to challenge, probably because his pop also reminds him that he's still a second rate punk.

You're going to drive yourself crazy trying to referee your flock's pecking order issues. As long as you have provided adequate space for the flock, at least ten square feet of run space per bird, you need to let the chickens work things out. They understand much better than we do what their social order rules are, and they will usually work things out very efficiently if we don't constantly interfere.

On the issue of an occasional injury with blood, that's also normal. I will gather up the chicken with the injury, usually a minor bite on the comb which can bleed heavily and appear much worse than it is, and wash it and coat it with Blu-kote and return them immediately to the flock. The longer an injured chicken is kept out of the flock, the worse it will be for them when returned.

I think it was a gold star sentence, long winded or not and I appreciate the response immensely. ♡

Each chicken has roughly 33 to 35 sf of run space (plus a few free range or hang out in the trees), and there's a lot of entertainment there, at least in my opinion. I'm sure I could do more. I have climbing and perching "structures" made out of branches, logs and twigs that I change every couple of weeks to keep them interested, leantos to climb and hide under, a zucchini and cucumber stick (I hung a stick tied to a string and put veggies in it so they can peck on it tetherball style, once a week usually), two swings, a ladder, random climbing and hiding spaces like chairs and bins I change and move around, low/medium/high roosts, a compost in the run which they never tire of, crates I sprout seeds under and then move every week so they can attack it/eat it, etc. It's a chicken playground in the making.







All of what you've said makes so much sense! The two boys are in the youngest group (hatched in July), the girl in question is from the middle group (hatched in June) and the older girls (hatched in late April) have no interest in the boys, though enjoy giving the younger girls plenty of pecks when they're annoyed. I probably, in retrospect, should have gotten a boy from the beginning, huh? I have the Welsummer boy and he has three same aged Welsummer ladies and a Barnevelder boy, also with three same aged Barney girls. I've considered separating the latter four and keeping them in their own tiny little house and separate run to keep the boys broken up, though so far they seem to get along just fine. Granted they're still young, but the Barnevelder is timid and submissive to all elders and the other boy.

I think my biggest error so far was keeping the injured hen separate from everyone for so long -- she was bloody and just keep going back for more. I panicked. I originally asked a few friends and everybody has their own opinions on everything and was told everything from keep them separated for a couple of days to keep them separated for a couple of weeks to regime her. It's now day 3 with yesterday being a complete fiasco when I brought her back. Her wound has been cleaned and I put Pick No More on it, a BluKote equivalent, but all the girls kept chasing/pecking her while she tried to attack the boy again. It sounds like returning her today is best and letting nature take its course, huh? Do you think I should wait until evening roost time? I have to admit I'm pretty guilty of being a helicopter chicken mama. I totally understand pecking order and moodiness and I'm fine with that but once there's blood, that's when I panic.

Again, thank you so very much for taking the time to respond and sharing your wisdom. Much appreciated!