Rooster attacking former head hen?

[firechicken76]

Hi all,

Looking for advice. Hatched out chicks with a broody in June. Flock has 20 hens and 2 roosters. Free range on about 2/3 acre during the day.

The former head hen seems to have been pushed out of the flock by the dominant rooster. She was starting to "mate" with the other hens before the roosters fully matured. Now, the dominant rooster chases her whenever he gets the chance and her comb has a pretty bad injury.

Not sure what the best course of action here is. Does the rooster go or the hen?

 

[Kiki]

I'd vote for the rooster to go.

 

[Kiki]

Are you sure she isn't sick?

 

[Debbie292d]

They are only five months old, so I'd pull the aggressive one out for a couple of weeks, or a month, then see what the dynamics of your flock are then.

her comb has a pretty bad injury.

How bad it is? If it's bleeding, they'll pick it. I'd put some triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) on it. You can either keep her out until it's healed or use some Blu-Kote or blue food coloring to hide the red.