Rooster the Protector

[Lavender6]

Hello Everyone,
I have 7 hen, two barred rock and 5 orpingtons. They are all about a year. I added the barred rock when they all were about 7 months old. They are all a little over a year.

I just bought a buff orpington and a lavender roo. They are both about 4 months. I have had them about 2 weeks now and kept them seperated. First, in a huge dog crate in the middle of the run, now I sectioned off a little for the youngins. I tried to put them all together after a week and my big one immediately tried to attack them. SO, of course I took them out.

My question is, since the roo and pullet have grown up and lived together for about 4 months, will the roo protect her from the others? Second question, how long should I keep them apart? Thank you in advance.

 

[Mrs. K]

The rooster will dealing with his own problems, he probably is not quite old enough to take over the flock, so probably not the protector you are imagining, however at 4 months, I would get them into the flock. Here are some tricks that work for me.

What does your run look like? I think I would put a lot of roosts, pallets, platforms, and mini walls in the run. What you need is places, where birds can get out of sight. Many people just have an open flat 2 dimensional space in their run. Where by adding 'clutter' you make much great use of the 3rd dimension - vertical space. And make it much more interesting to your birds. Set up multiple feed bowls, placed so that a bird eating at one, cannot see birds eating at another.

If you already have them, I would re-arrange them. Then I would let the old birds out into the yard, and let the young ones in the set up to explore it, without being chased. Let the old ones in as close to dark as you can. Do set up a lower roost in the coop if you can. Do get down there early in the morning.

Often times, there might be one or two old biddies that are just heartless, if so, put THEM in the dog crate for a couple of weeks.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Space might be an issue.
Dimensions and pics of your coop and run would help here.

Here's some tips about......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Lavender6]

The rooster will dealing with his own problems, he probably is not quite old enough to take over the flock, so probably not the protector you are imagining, however at 4 months, I would get them into the flock. Here are some tricks that work for me.

What does your run look like? I think I would put a lot of roosts, pallets, platforms, and mini walls in the run. What you need is places, where birds can get out of sight. Many people just have an open flat 2 dimensional space in their run. Where by adding 'clutter' you make much great use of the 3rd dimension - vertical space. And make it much more interesting to your birds. Set up multiple feed bowls, placed so that a bird eating at one, cannot see birds eating at another.

If you already have them, I would re-arrange them. Then I would let the old birds out into the yard, and let the young ones in the set up to explore it, without being chased. Let the old ones in as close to dark as you can. Do set up a lower roost in the coop if you can. Do get down there early in the morning.

Often times, there might be one or two old biddies that are just heartless, if so, put THEM in the dog crate for a couple of weeks.

Mrs K

Thank you for answering. I have a little building inside the run with several perches. I have pallets, tree branches, perch logs to sit on and little "tunnels" made with pallets. I also have my coop, a second coop, a 12x12 dog pen and about 900 square ft. The dog pen has several perches, a swing, another dust bath and a little table. My biggest coop is 7x7 and I have a small coop 6x4 that I use primarily as their dust bath, with perches. They can't really get hemmed up no place. I guess the 4 month old can run faster than my full grown waddling orpingtons. LOL.

I have been putting the babes in the dog pen in the morning and closing it off. I let the big girls have the run, then Visa versa. I now have the babes in a 4 ft circular cage dog pen. I will let them go tomorrow and watch. The girls have walked all around them all day. I still keep them in a little cage with a perch at night. I am not ready to trust that. It is a little smaller that I would like. I have 9 in all now.

I hope all goes well and Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you are going to be golden. I will be interested to hear how it goes. But I would not expect much at all. You are much more patient than me. It sounds like a good set up.

A high powered squirt gun can spike guns, but I will be very surprised if you need it. Or a time out for a real old biddy.

Mrs K

 

[Lavender6]

I sure will let you know. I have Pinless peepers if it gets bad enough

 

[Lavender6]

I think you are going to be golden. I will be interested to hear how it goes. But I would not expect much at all. You are much more patient than me. It sounds like a good set up.

A high powered squirt gun can spike guns, but I will be very surprised if you need it. Or a time out for a real old biddy.

Mrs K

You were right!! I turned them loose while I was covering my run in deer netting. That way I could watch them. They got on beautifully. Of course if they came close to the hens, they would run them away. The small one are fast and gets away. I do have one in the dog cage in the middle of the run. She was relentless. She is my smallest out of my hens but boy she has attitude! I told hubby I had her caged to write 100 times "I will not be a bully." He looked at me like I had lost my mind hehe

Anyway, thank you so much. Your help was appreciated!

 

[Mrs. K]

We do understand! No need to explain, I hope she uses good penmanship too!

 

[Lavender6]

LOL