restructuring after roo removal??? Blah -- how long will it last?

[kellykate]

I had to find a new home for my 15 week old cockerel because I am not allowed to have roosters in our neighborhood. Since he left my very calm, peaceful chickens have become crabby! I have never seen them peck each other before but they are at it!

It seems to be worst at night when they go up to roost at night (they sleep in the rafters of the coop). They will even reach over another chicken to peck someone further down the line. I knew there would be some restructuring after my cockerel left but how long will it last??? Is there anything I can do? I let them free range today the entire day in hopes that they would be tired and out of energy for bickering -- no such luck! Don't know what to do???

FYI : it has only been a couple days -- I know I should be patient -- I just feel bad -- where did my nice chickens go??

 

[golden comets]

I had to find a new home for my rooster to and that has been a month ago and the 9 hens that are left fight some at night still, when he was there he only let it go on so long then he would straighten them out,I think from my experience there will be a little more fighting without a rooster.Its not really fighting just scuffles.

 

[Clay In Iowa]

I don't know but I'm about to find out. My Beautiful BCM roo tore my 4 year old up the other day. My boy went down to check for eggs and the roo cornered him for about 10 minutes. I just happened to go down to see why he was taking so long. Yea I know I'm nominating myself for father of the year for letting him go in the coop alone. Then last night he went after me (big....big..... BIG mistake) I caught him mid jump by the head and chucked his stunned butt right through the pop door...... then I went out to the run he hadn't had enough so I wore his a$$ out........ he won't even look at me right now..... In my coop it's 2 strikes and your stew... he has one life left.

 

[kellykate]

Maybe they are mad about all this rain! (I live in Maine and I swear it has been raining for a month straight)!!! Ugh -- ok well I'll just wait it out a bit. If anyone else has any ideas or tips let me know!

 

[golden comets]

KellyKate I live in Maine to,I am so sick of rain and so are my birds!!!!!!I live in northern Maine

 

[kellykate]

Oh my Golden Comets -- then you know!! The weather is enough to make anyone a little crabby even chickens!! Hang in there -- looks like we may dry out a bit over the weekend! Hopefully

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I got rid of my roo a few months back and the only difference I seen was my old hen trying to mate with one of my hens

They were all kind of enjoying being able to roam around eating grass with no one jumping all over them every second.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I'm about to send RueRoo packing because he's entirely too rough on my hens. Beats them up for no reason. I gave one a tomato worm yesterday and he beat the hen up who ate it.

As soon as I rehome him, I'm thinking it's the perfect time to introduce a few of the 14 week pullets into the big girl pen.

 

[kellykate]

Yeah, that's what I thought! I thought the ladies would be all happy when their bossy roo hit the road -- but apparently not! I also tried to introduce a new pullet at the same time and maybe that just was too much change!! Looking a little bit better today -- they are squabbling at each other much less but still chasing the new one around

 

[enola]

The hens will chase the pullet around for days before they all decide that she knows who is boss.

Hens always squabble more when there is not a rooster with them. Roosters break up a lot of potential disagreements that arise.