Roo Immediately Attacking New Chicks

[wynncreations]

I have 2 Roos and 2 Hens(main flock, NH Reds) both ~3 months old(got them as new chicks in late April). I bought 2 more banded hens(buff orpington and ameraucana) to replace the 2 Roos when they crow about 1.5 months ago. City doesn't allow crowing roos. Since day 1 the Roos will immediately attack and try to rip the chicks apart. The main flock of 4 is free ranging the backyard during the day and into the coop at night. The chicks are in their own 8x4 run.

I was hoping that them being able to see each other and get accustomed to one another they would calm down a bit but still if one of the chicks is close to the edge of the run a Roo will try and get it through the wire.

Is there anything I can do here? The roos will get culled as soon as the start crowing and the older hens don't display the same type of bloodrage aggression, should I just let that timeline play out? At ~12 weeks should I just cull the roos now?

 

[DobieLover]

I have 2 Roos and 2 Hens(main flock, NH Reds) both ~3 months old(got them as new chicks in late April). I bought 2 more banded hens(buff orpington and ameraucana) to replace the 2 Roos when they crow about 1.5 months ago. City doesn't allow crowing roos. Since day 1 the Roos will immediately attack and try to rip the chicks apart. The main flock of 4 is free ranging the backyard during the day and into the coop at night. The chicks are in their own 8x4 run.

I was hoping that them being able to see each other and get accustomed to one another they would calm down a bit but still if one of the chicks is close to the edge of the run a Roo will try and get it through the wire.

Is there anything I can do here? The roos will get culled as soon as the start crowing and the older hens don't display the same type of bloodrage aggression, should I just let that timeline play out? At ~12 weeks should I just cull the roos now?

Either put the cockerels in their own grow out pen until it is time to cull or just rehome them. Two cockerels with 2 pullets is a nightmare waiting to happen. Them being aggressive to the younger pullets is just the icing on the cake to lock them up until freezer time.

 

[sourland]

Separate, cull now, or rehome - I agree with DL.

 

[wynncreations]

I guess it never occurred to me to put the cockerels in the run, instead of the chicks. Mostly because the cat would eat them(he mostly leaves the bigger flock alone now).

Thanks everyone, I'll give this a go.

 

[wynncreations]

Separate, cull now, or rehome - I agree with DL.

I may need to keep them in the run(younger pullets) until they can outrun the cat. He was able to tire the buff out pretty quick.

 

[centrarchid]

This is exactly where the terms roos and roosters get us into trouble. Age is everything when it comes to integration. Immature males have no reason to accept younger strangers. Adult males very often do as they can be a source of potential mates later and the adult males may be hardwired not to be a threat to young that might be theirs. The same gentle "roosters" as adults, differed markedly when immature where they were almost invariably a threat to new comers they did not know.

Even terms of cockerel and stag are sloppy in keeping us fine tuned on what the males will do.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Age is everything when it comes to integration.

Instead of age I'd say maturity. My pullets start acting like mature hens about when they start to lay, whether that is 5 months or seven. With cockerels who knows. I've had one act pretty mature at 5 months, another one took close to a year. Most of my cockerels seem to hit that point around 7 months but it can vary a lot. Age in weeks or months is very useful to now in these cases but event that is not conclusive. Chicks mature at different rates, even the same breed hatched and raised together.

I agree to separate the two cockerels from the chicks. If you can, integrating the 6 week olds with the 12 week old pullets now would be a good thing to try, it would simplify your life if it works. But be careful with that also, the age/maturity difference might caused problem integrating them with the pullets. Or it might work great.

 

[aart]

At ~12 weeks should I just cull the roos now?

Yeppers, will be nice on the grill...and should make integration easier.

Some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[wynncreations]

I may need to

Instead of age I'd say maturity. My pullets start acting like mature hens about when they start to lay, whether that is 5 months or seven. With cockerels who knows. I've had one act pretty mature at 5 months, another one took close to a year. Most of my cockerels seem to hit that point around 7 months but it can vary a lot. Age in weeks or months is very useful to now in these cases but event that is not conclusive. Chicks mature at different rates, even the same breed hatched and raised together.

I agree to separate the two cockerels from the chicks. If you can, integrating the 6 week olds with the 12 week old pullets now would be a good thing to try, it would simplify your life if it works. But be careful with that also, the age/maturity difference might caused problem integrating them with the pullets. Or it might work great.

Thanks, I have an uncle that needed a couple cockerels, so they are headed that way in a few days. I cant integrate yet because our yard cat will eat them. The older pullets dont get bothered by the cat but the little ones got ran down immediately.