Rooster woes

[ss07021]

Long post, I apologize:

We have an 8 month old (approx) Australorp rooster and 3 Australorp hens the same age. They grew up together. We also have 4 older Rhode Island Red hens. The Australorps and Reds have their own coops and are separated with one open run area. The roo has been good around my family and I. Efforts to integrate the flocks haven’t gone well. The Reds are mean girls.

I just noticed today that roo started to mount one of the Australorp hens. So, I set the roo out in the run and let the Reds out with just him. He went for a Red who didn’t appreciate his efforts. It was quite a fight. I broke it up before anything serious happened.

The Australorp hens don’t like being separated from the roo. My concern is whether I need to rehome him to keep the peace. We do plan on building a new run at some point. We have no plans to breed any hen at any time.

Advice?

 

[ss07021]

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not quite sure I am following your post. I am not following what you want to do. If you don't want fertilized eggs - you can certainly rehome him or cull him.

By 8 months or very shortly, he will be ready to take on those red girls. Usually mine are in love by morning. I don't think I would have broken up the fight unless they were bleeding. It is normal to have a dust up when adding them. He will want all the girls together, red or black, and some roosters are pretty good at squashing squabbles in the hens.

Is it all of the reds that are mean, or is there one or two. If so, pull those, and see if you can get the rest to settle down together. Or you could just keep him with the BA's. Was that peaceful?

Some people like an all hen flock, some people like a flock with a rooster. Each type of flock has different dynamics.

You know, I really don't think I addressed your problem...

 

[Folly's place]

This sounds normal to me too, and I'd let them free range together unless there are injuries. Combining flocks is always 'interesting', and your cockerel has to earn respect out there.
I personally don't like the production RIRs because the hens I've had have been 'mean girls' too. If the groups combine, it's great. If injuries happen, then you will need to make adjustments.
Mary

 

[Chickassan]

Rehomeing him won't keep the peace, he isn't the problem.
Your RIR's will continue to be holy terrors to the other girls and him.
They are pretty well...racist for lack of a better term.
All reds you'd have peace, but they don't mix too well most of the time.

 

[Folly's place]

Absolutely!

 

[That_australian_lad]

Rehomeing him won't keep the peace, he isn't the problem.
Your RIR's will continue to be holy terrors to the other girls and him.
They are pretty well...racist for lack of a better term.
All reds you'd have peace, but they don't mix too well most of the time.

x2

 

[Chickassan]

Lol, iv'e tried mixing them. Can ya'll tell?

Absolutely!

x2

 

[Folly's place]

It's been a long time since I've had production reds; miserable feather pecking beasts, all of them.
Mary

 

[That_australian_lad]

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