Rooster viciously pecking hen r

[Chicken Momma 27]

I have a flock of 4 hens, 1 rooster, and 2 guineas that are about a year old. About 4 months ago, I purchased 3 additional biddies to eventually. They were unsexed and I ended up with 2 roos and 1 hen.

At about 6-8 weeks old, the smaller rooster started picking fights with the larger rooster, but nothing severe enough to separate them. The roosters were protective of the hen and never showed aggression towards her. At times, she’d even stand between them if they got a little feisty with each other to prevent a fight.

Rather than introducing my younger, smaller chicks to my older ones too early, I decided to build them their own coop and run until they were bigger. About a week ago while I was building their new run, the two roosters suddenly and viciously attacked the hen. They would have killed her if I hadn’t been close by and intervened. By the time I got to her to stop the attack, she was lying on the ground, not moving. I brought her inside my house to assess her. She didn’t sustain any serious injuries, but I decided to keep her inside until I finished building their new run since I suspected the attack could have been due to overcrowding since their enclosure had gotten a bit tight as they grew. Upon completion of the 6’ x 8’ run, I tried to return her, but they immediately attacked her again so she is once again, inside with me.

Any ideas on why the 2 roos have turned against her and what I can do about it? She isn’t big enough to introduce to my older flock, but not safe with the chickens she was raised with.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I have a flock of 4 hens, 1 rooster, and 2 guineas that are about a year old. About 4 months ago, I purchased 3 additional biddies to eventually. They were unsexed and I ended up with 2 roos and 1 hen.

At about 6-8 weeks old, the smaller rooster started picking fights with the larger rooster, but nothing severe enough to separate them. The roosters were protective of the hen and never showed aggression towards her. At times, she’d even stand between them if they got a little feisty with each other to prevent a fight.

Rather than introducing my younger, smaller chicks to my older ones too early, I decided to build them their own coop and run until they were bigger. About a week ago while I was building their new run, the two roosters suddenly and viciously attacked the hen. They would have killed her if I hadn’t been close by and intervened. By the time I got to her to stop the attack, she was lying on the ground, not moving. I brought her inside my house to assess her. She didn’t sustain any serious injuries, but I decided to keep her inside until I finished building their new run since I suspected the attack could have been due to overcrowding since their enclosure had gotten a bit tight as they grew. Upon completion of the 6’ x 8’ run, I tried to return her, but they immediately attacked her again so she is once again, inside with me.

Any ideas on why the 2 roos have turned against her and what I can do about it? She isn’t big enough to introduce to my older flock, but not safe with the chickens she was raised with.

Each rooster needs nine hens each, and that may be the reason your hen got bullied.
You should either re-home a rooster, eat a rooster, or sell a rooster.
The bottom line is there aren't enough hens to share for those two roosters.
My current guess is one of the roosters was trying to mount the hen when the other came over and tried to mount her at the same time (or brawl with the other rooster) and this could have created the fight.
( It's possible they intended to fight each other, but she got stuck in the middle of the quarrel.)

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Also welcome to BYC!

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

It might be possible that they intended to attack the hen, but considering a rooster's instinct is to protect his hens - I find it kind of odd. Either way, a rooster needs to go.
asap.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Each rooster needs nine hens each, and that may be the reason your hen got bullied.

That isn't a number set in stone. Some flocks can tolerate lower ratios, some need even higher ratios. I have a flock now with 9 females including nonlaying pullets with 3 active males.

But you can't expect to be able to house more roosters than hens in the same flock. At this point I would bite the bullet and work on introducing the female to the older group using a see don't touch method

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

That isn't a number set in stone. Some flocks can tolerate lower ratios, some need even higher ratios. I have a flock now with 9 females including nonlaying pullets with 3 active males.

But you can't expect to be able to house more roosters than hens in the same flock. At this point I would bite the bullet and work on introducing the female to the older group using a see don't touch method

You are correct, it's not set in stone but more like a base number IMO,
give or take a few chickens. I did forget to mention that roosters raised in the same brood - and docile breeds tend to do better together as well.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I would bite the bullet and work on introducing the female to the older group using a see don't touch method

Great idea, OP could start a bachelor flock if they wanted to!

 

[Chicken Momma 27]

Each rooster needs nine hens each, and that may be the reason your hen got bullied.
You should either re-home a rooster, eat a rooster, or sell a rooster.
The bottom line is there aren't enough hens to share for those two roosters.
My current guess is one of the roosters was trying to mount the hen when the other came over and tried to mount her at the same time (or brawl with the other rooster) and this could have created the fight.
( It's possible they intended to fight each other, but she got stuck in the middle of the quarrel.)

I know that the current setup wasn’t going to work forever (two rooster with one hen), but I thought since they aren’t fully grown yet, it wouldn’t be a problem. That’s an interesting point though that I hadn’t considered After the first incident and removing her from their pin, I tried to reintroduce her (about a week later) and both roos immediately came to her. The one that has always favored her got to her first and started pecking her so before the other roo made it over to her, I saves her from the bullying. I’m not really sure if they’d do it twice like that if it was due to mating