I have a 2 year old Marans rooster named Flip. He has gained and lost hens over the years. In the spring of this year, I gave him a pair of lovely Barnelders (almost 1 year old). These Barnies used to live next door to Flip with another rooster who we decided not to keep. They've been living together for about 6 months now, and they're just not that into each other. It's the oddest thing, and I think it's the rooster not accepting the hens more than the other way aroudn. The hens had no issues with their previous rooster.
Flip never really tried to charm the ladies the way he normally does. I've seen him chase them, but it looks like he wants to attack them- not mate them (although he's never attacked them until very recently... keep reading). They've been coexisting- they don't fight and he only chases them occasionally. The girls will come for snacks when he tidbits, but as soon as he looks at them they dart away. I've only ever seen him mate one of the hens one time. They sleep together peacefully in their coop- often next to one another. The hens are bottom of the pecking order, but don't have any issues with the other hens in the flock. It's been like this for the entire 6 months.
Flip was living with 5 girls for the past couple months with both runs & coops open. (It's a "Cooplex" designed to hold 5 birds per side or 10 when open). He has 2 girls he grew up with (2 year old RIR & 6 y/o Wyandotte). He has a 2 year old wyandotte mix he's lived with for a year. Plus the two Barnevelders (now about 18 months old).
Flip got 3 new hens a few days ago. 1 was a former hen of his who'd been laid up after a fox attack (she's a little over a year old) and then 2 young layers (about 6 mons). They are all Marans. I set them up side-by-side to Flip's flock, but the hens busted through the barrier and made themselves at home. They are madly in love with Flip and he with them- but there is some drama amongst the old and new hens (as expected). The Barnevelder girls are the most stressed by the new additions. (One was broody but broke out of it but that created additional stress I think). Their stress seems to be agitating Flip. I've seen him attempt to kick the Barnies, twice in the last couple days, when they run past him to avoid the new hens.
The focus of this post is not really the integration of the new hens. It's more about the relationship (or lack of) between the rooster and the Barnevelder hens who've cohabitated, safely but platonically, for the last 5 months. It's the only dynnamic where I see a potential risk of injury. At this point, should I just give up on the dream that some day they'll fall in love and make me some speckled layers? After 5 months, should I assume Flip won't accept these 2 girls and move the Barnies to a new flock? (This is Flip's flock. He's not going anywhere). Is my Frenchman only into French and American girls, and just not interested in German girls?
This is my handsome Flip and his 2 newest ladies.
Flip never really tried to charm the ladies the way he normally does. I've seen him chase them, but it looks like he wants to attack them- not mate them (although he's never attacked them until very recently... keep reading). They've been coexisting- they don't fight and he only chases them occasionally. The girls will come for snacks when he tidbits, but as soon as he looks at them they dart away. I've only ever seen him mate one of the hens one time. They sleep together peacefully in their coop- often next to one another. The hens are bottom of the pecking order, but don't have any issues with the other hens in the flock. It's been like this for the entire 6 months.
Flip was living with 5 girls for the past couple months with both runs & coops open. (It's a "Cooplex" designed to hold 5 birds per side or 10 when open). He has 2 girls he grew up with (2 year old RIR & 6 y/o Wyandotte). He has a 2 year old wyandotte mix he's lived with for a year. Plus the two Barnevelders (now about 18 months old).
Flip got 3 new hens a few days ago. 1 was a former hen of his who'd been laid up after a fox attack (she's a little over a year old) and then 2 young layers (about 6 mons). They are all Marans. I set them up side-by-side to Flip's flock, but the hens busted through the barrier and made themselves at home. They are madly in love with Flip and he with them- but there is some drama amongst the old and new hens (as expected). The Barnevelder girls are the most stressed by the new additions. (One was broody but broke out of it but that created additional stress I think). Their stress seems to be agitating Flip. I've seen him attempt to kick the Barnies, twice in the last couple days, when they run past him to avoid the new hens.
The focus of this post is not really the integration of the new hens. It's more about the relationship (or lack of) between the rooster and the Barnevelder hens who've cohabitated, safely but platonically, for the last 5 months. It's the only dynnamic where I see a potential risk of injury. At this point, should I just give up on the dream that some day they'll fall in love and make me some speckled layers? After 5 months, should I assume Flip won't accept these 2 girls and move the Barnies to a new flock? (This is Flip's flock. He's not going anywhere). Is my Frenchman only into French and American girls, and just not interested in German girls?
This is my handsome Flip and his 2 newest ladies.
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