Rooster at night

[sammi_lynn12]

I just added a rooster to our flock today. He has been fine with them all day until tonight. This is the first time I allowed him on the roosting bar with them and from the time it took to let the horses in and then go back and check on them there was blood dripping down the roosting bar. I looked at all the girls and didn’t see anything but did physically see him peck one of the hens foot next to him before I picked him up and put him in the crate he’s been staying in at night.

Will he get better about this? Is this to be expected?

It hurts my heart that he did this and drew blood on one of them because I have had no squabbles or anything within my flock. I want to make sure this is to be expected and will get better soon because if not, he will have to go.

 

[dawg53]

I've had hens peck another hens foot on the roosting bar, but never a rooster. With the hens, it's the pecking order on the roost for the night.
Maybe your rooster is establishing the pecking order on the roost bar as well.

 

[sammi_lynn12]

I've had hens peck another hens foot on the roosting bar, but never a rooster. With the hens, it's the pecking order on the roost for the night.
Maybe your rooster is establishing the pecking order on the roost bar as well.

Today was their first day all together, he’s been in the crate for a few days in their coop with them. Today went so well so it make me sad he was acting like that. The roosting bar is plenty big enough for all of them but we are installing another one tomorrow and I may still just put him in the crate for a few more days at night. After a few days then I’ll just situate them away from him at night on the roosting bars. He wasn’t attacking them, it was more of a “hey you’re too close to me” pecks type of thing but they wouldn’t move away from him.

 

[SueT]

What we think is plenty of roost space and what the chickens think are 2 different things. Good you are putting in another roost. I have also installed improvised roost dividers, they seem to appreciate them. No more roost battles….

 

[aart]

How old is he?
How big is your...coop, roost length, number of birds???

 

[sammi_lynn12]

How old is he?
How big is your...coop, roost length, number of birds???

He is 7 months old. Our coop is 8x8 and the roosting bar goes all the way across so it’s 8 feet long. 6 hens and one rooster.

 

[SueT]

Yeah, you have room for another roost! I bet that will solve the problem! Keep us updated!

 

[sammi_lynn12]

Yeah, you have room for another roost! I bet that will solve the problem! Keep us updated!

Yes! We’ll get another installed and I may situate them on the roost and give him plenty of space.

 

[Tonyroo]

Don't have the second roost bar close to the first one. Keep a considerable gap between the two.

 

[Tonyroo]

Like all pre adult birds there testing the situations and surroundings. He will understand the longer he lives there.