Rooster hates the new hens

[bobbi-j]

Sooo…I put the new girls back in the run before dawn and will try to catch the rooster this evening, with my husband's help. I'm working from home and I checked in on them several times and haven't seen any fighting. Until I went out just now. When I got to the door I saw one of the new girls (not the challenger) on the ground in a heap. I thought she was dead. She was not dead, but she is lethargic and doesn't want to stand on her own (although she can). She was laying on her side and that side was a bit matted with debris and straw. I checked her over and I don't see any injuries. BUT she does have a big bald spot at the base of her comb. I think the rooster was mating her, based off of the bald spot. Maybe he was overly aggressive? Or maybe she's devastated at the loss of her purity?

Uh... no. Animals in general don't think that way. If there are no injuries, I would not suspect either the rooster or the other hens. It seems there may by something else going on. Chickens don't do change well. Maybe she's reacting to all the moving from place to place. Taken from her original home, put in the coop, taken back out, put back in... All of that is hard on them. I have never in my experience get so aggressive mating a hen that she ended up reacting that way. Honestly, if there is no fighting, no signs of injuries, I'd leave the rooster in the coop. Maybe take out the traumatized one until she recovers, if she's not showing improvement by the time they go to roost tonight. It's important to remember that every time you separate one or more from the flock, the integration process has to start all over EVERY time you put them back in with the flock. Every time.

 

[Rainekitty]

Just joking about the purity thing : )

 

[bobbi-j]

Just joking about the purity thing : )

You got me! You'd be surprised at how many people will attach human emotions to their animals... How is your hen doing now?