Rooster drama

[robyn8]

I guess I'll try making her some hiding spots and see how it goes. We have plenty of feeders and drinkers and I feel like we have enough space for 13 birds. 8x8 coop, 8x12 covered secure run and 24x18 uncovered pasture. I hate the idea of my birds being stressed so I have a feeling this will end soon with one less rooster but we'll see how it goes.

 

[robyn8]

Tried integrating again. Went much better between the hens. The injured one is now walking away when's he sees the mean one approaching and mostly hiding in the coop. So big improvement there. But the roo goes after her the second he sees her and it's not his normal mating like behavior. He's clearly trying to hurt her. She was submitting and he keeps pecking her head. He needs to go. I've got two more cockerels to deal with in the next few months so no sense dealing with this guy.​

 

[Stephine]

I put pinless peepers on all my more aggressive hens when I integrated the cockerel and pullet a few months ago. That took them down a notch. Having to figure out how to navigate the world with those took their attention off the newcomers a bit and made pecking them a bit harder. If that was my hen attacking, she’d be wearing glasses for a bit...
This situation is precisely why I don’t like isolating for injury unless absolutely necessary....
You might try this: take both the roo and the bully hen and isolate them for a few days (unless the roo starts mating her like crazy, then you need to isolate them separately, ugh). Then let the hen join the group again and add the roo a few days later. This might break up their alliance. Might.
Good luck!

 

[robyn8]

Thanks for the suggestion! We ended up sending the roo to the freezer this afternoon. After seeing the rooster wouldn't let up on her I just didn't think it was fair to her to keep him. She was here first after all! he hens are totally fine now. My theory is the hens were already jockeying for position on the pecking order a bit and when the one was being singled out by the roo the other took her opportunity. They seem to have settled spots now though and there is peace again. At least till my cockerels get older. As someone pointed out I really didn't want that rooster anyways. He's a mix that no one will want if I try to give away babies later on.

 

[Stephine]

Good! That is certainly the easieat solution. I hope you’ll have peace in the hen house now!