Rooster running off hens

[Jor4dan5]

I have had Buff Orphingtons and Plymouth Barred Rock hens for about three years now.

I recently built a new small coup for my new Bantam Old English chickens, two hens and one rooster, all the same age, both hens just started laying. I was told they were Bantam Old English chickens but not 100% sure if that is correct.

I've had them for about two months now. I open both coup doors in the mornings so they can free range in the yard. And of course I close it at night. My hens go to their coup and my old English go back to their coup as well with no issues.

Two days ago, I went to shut the coup door and one Old English hen was missing. I thought a predator got her which is possible where I live. Therefore I kept the chickens in the coup for a couple days because i was not going to be home much.

Today I came home and my missing old English hen was back in the yard. I let out my rooster and other hen so they could reunite. Unfortunately my rooster chased her away and she flew into a tree. Now, this afternoon, both hens are gone.

Is my rooster running them off? Everything has been going fine the past two months. Now he is chasing them away to the point the hens are roosting in a tree I'm assuming. They are small birds and can fly very high in the trees. I'm going to catch my rooster and put him in a time out to see if my hens come back to the coup. Does anyone have any ideas? Sorry for the long story for a simple question, but theres all the facts. Thank you.

 

[azygous]

First, remember that roosters are optional. No law says you need to keep one around hens. Hens know they don't need them except to fertilize eggs, and they don't appear to miss the rooster when he's removed.

If you choose to keep a rooster, there are options also. No need to give the roo access to the hens all of the time. Most, mine anyway, are content to girl watch through a fence. I have a jail pen in my run, and I use it for a lot of things, segregating the roosters being one.

My roosters understand that they will roost with the hens come evening, and they are then allowed into the coop after the girls have settled in. This flock management style is common in a lot of flocks, and it really does help keep a flock peaceful.