Hello,
So basics: Our rooster Hades, is attacking our hen Melody. Melody is a few months older than Hades and the rest of the hens. She is over a year old and does not lay eggs well. Those she does lay are thin shelled and break easily (or other hens peck before I can get them). She eats the same amount of oyster shell as other hens. That is a separate issue though. I bring it up because that might play a role in why Hades is attacking her (according to other threads here).
More background: We have had Melody since she was a baby. The others we got at 2 months, and 3 months. We have had about 6 months. Out of nowhere last week Hades started attacking Melody and biting her waddle. We brought her into the porch to heal. At the time I thought she had been hen pecked, which also was confusing because she is usually the one pecking others. But as she healed and we tried to work her back outside, that's when we noticed Hades chasing her, and biting her. She would curl into a 'ball' o the ground. She was not 'assuming the position' for sex, but just laying still and letting him bite her. We had to bring her in again and let her heal some more. Today we swapped Hades for Melody. So now Hades is on our porch and Melody is back outside. She is doing well, and back in the groove outside with the other hens.
Problem: What do I do with Hades? He is a beautiful rooster, and is good to the other hens. We have 6 hens, and Hades, and then 2 bantam roosters and 2 bantam hens that are about 5 months old. They live in the same yard, but separate cliques.
So is there a way for me to get Hades and Melody to get along again, or will Hades continue to try to attack her?
We love our Melody since we have had her the longest, but I do like Hades and he is otherwise a good rooster to his hens and people. So we feel a bit torn. Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you
picture of Melody after main attack
first day outside-went straight for a dust bath. a bit ruffed up, but she got her diva glint back in her eye .
So basics: Our rooster Hades, is attacking our hen Melody. Melody is a few months older than Hades and the rest of the hens. She is over a year old and does not lay eggs well. Those she does lay are thin shelled and break easily (or other hens peck before I can get them). She eats the same amount of oyster shell as other hens. That is a separate issue though. I bring it up because that might play a role in why Hades is attacking her (according to other threads here).
More background: We have had Melody since she was a baby. The others we got at 2 months, and 3 months. We have had about 6 months. Out of nowhere last week Hades started attacking Melody and biting her waddle. We brought her into the porch to heal. At the time I thought she had been hen pecked, which also was confusing because she is usually the one pecking others. But as she healed and we tried to work her back outside, that's when we noticed Hades chasing her, and biting her. She would curl into a 'ball' o the ground. She was not 'assuming the position' for sex, but just laying still and letting him bite her. We had to bring her in again and let her heal some more. Today we swapped Hades for Melody. So now Hades is on our porch and Melody is back outside. She is doing well, and back in the groove outside with the other hens.
Problem: What do I do with Hades? He is a beautiful rooster, and is good to the other hens. We have 6 hens, and Hades, and then 2 bantam roosters and 2 bantam hens that are about 5 months old. They live in the same yard, but separate cliques.
So is there a way for me to get Hades and Melody to get along again, or will Hades continue to try to attack her?
We love our Melody since we have had her the longest, but I do like Hades and he is otherwise a good rooster to his hens and people. So we feel a bit torn. Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you
first day outside-went straight for a dust bath. a bit ruffed up, but she got her diva glint back in her eye .
