Rooster attacking one of my hens...

[eXoMajorPain]

I went down to the Coop tonight to gather eggs and noticed my silkie (Loretta) outside roosted up in the run by herself. As I got closer to the coop, I noticed she had blood all over her neck and back. Upon further inspection, she had a hole on the back of her neck about the size of a nickel. It was not just a flesh wound, it was deep into the muscle. Unfortunately, she was not going to make it and I had to cull her. I can only assume that it was my new rooster that did this.

My rooster (Murtaw), is about 6 months old and has just started asserting his dominance over the flock. Since this has started happening, he had rejected Loretta and made her an outsider. I have personally seen him chasing her away from the rest of the flock and tearing feathers out with his beak.

I've only been raising chickens for about a year and haven't had this issue before. Is this normal behavior for a new rooster coming into his own? Or is this cause for concern? Loretta was my wife's favorite, and I don't want this to happen again. Please, any advice is good advice. We're heartbroken, my wife especially.

Thank you.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

How old was Loretta? I had this happen with an adult rooster and a juvenile hen that had gotten out with the adults. She also had a large hole deep in her neck, so far that I could see her neck bone. However with the help of prayer, neosporine (or however you spell it) and a small enclosure, she actually made a full recovery. However she was attacked again and died due to shock. (That really bothered me bc she was a black Spanish white face) (I was not sad when this particular rooster ended in a feather trail leading to the woods). Sometimes there are roosters that are referred to rapist roosters. They’re very aggressive with hens and can severely hurt and kill them. This particular rooster also killed my moms lavender orphington. I would watch him with the other hens and he may chill out. Personally I would separate him and get rid of him. He might just go down the pecking order attacking the lowest and so on. I’m so sorry about your girl.

 

[eXoMajorPain]

How old was Loretta?

We got Loretta from my sister, so I'm not exactly sure how old she was. But she just went through her first molt about 3 months ago. So, a bit older than 1 1/2? Murtaw is younger than she was by far.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's rather shocking. I have a malr.that breeds a certain hen bald, but I've never had one that actually cause so much damage as wheat yours did, and I have 9 male's I'm keeping just this season with more probably coming.