Roosters are obsessed with only one hen

[dearmeghann]

First, I know we have too many young roosters. However, I'm wondering if this is a spring fever type of situation, or if we need to look into permanent alternatives - aka a Bachelor Flock.

Overall details:
3 roosters (almost 1 year old)
9 hens (3 (2 years old), 2 (almost 1 year old), and 4 new ones with varying ages (1 that's probably over 1 year old, and 3 who are about 6-7 months old) - All but one are laying eggs.
Big coop and mini coop. Two closed in runs.
Can free range when we're home. So thankfully, they get more time outside with the days getting longer.

Last spring, we raised five chicks. Three turned out to be roosters. The bantam cochin is by far the best rooster and used to be the main one. However, the maran and amereucana roosters doubled in size and started acting like the alphas. They're respectful to the rest of the flock, with a few random mini-fights amongst the boys. These are sweet boys; they love to hop up on our laps. They're not bullies to the rest of the flock. The bantam guy is the best at tidbitting and keeping an eye out for predators. And with his size, he's the gentlest with the hens. The other two are getting better, but I used to call them eye candy. Haha!

Over the last month or so, they've been OBSESSED with Bella. She's a 2-year-old blue cuckoo maran, used to be the head hen, and squatted for the boys. They've pecked off her head feathers, and the rest of the boys surround her if one of the roosters tries to mate with her. But what makes me furious is that they peck her head as if they're annoyed with HER and not the rooster doing the mating. She started to hide in the coop's nesting boxes. And it was a chore to have her feel safe enough to come out to free range in the afternoon.

Our solution was to get more hens. We got four new grown hens a few weeks ago. Bella acclimated to their flock super quickly. (separated for now, and we let them free range together in the evenings.) She's laying well, and her feathers are growing back.

Last week, we tried to take down the barrier in one run to see if they could co-exist peacefully (because at that time, it seemed like the boys weren't frantically looking for her anymore), and it didn't last a day. We separated them again.

They don't do this to any of the other hens in their flock. There are only four hens in the coop with the boys, and not one of them receives the same treatment as Bella did.

We try to keep them separated outside when they free range. If they can't see her, they don't obsess over her. But our bantam cochin is so protective, he wants to know where all of the girls are. And if he finds her and tidbits, the boys come over, and it's a whole fiasco of her running away and us trying to keep them away.

One of the new girls has the same coloring as Bella, and at first, they tried to get with her. And then quickly realized it's not the same bird. How are they that smart!?!?! I'm getting Bella a chicken saddle to see if it gives her some sort of disguise. Any suggestions for head protection?

Long story, I'm sorry. My overall question is: Will this get better? Will they get over their obsession with time and space apart? Do we need to figure out a way for them to free range separately? I don't see any wear and tear on the other chickens. No sparse areas with feathers missing. We have really been very lucky with the ratio of roosters to hens.

Note: my partner and I love these birds. Giving them away won't be possible unless the situation gets dire. We would rather entertain a separated flock. Which will be sad, because we're trying to figure out a safe way to free range them more without us there.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Can you keep all but one rooster in a bachelor flock and alternate free range time?

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens really do not do what is fair or what is right. And really you cannot train them once the problem starts. And really there is not much brain to change.

A couple of general rules:
The more roosters you have, the greater the chance of it going wrong. Sometimes you can get multiple roosters to work, but if they don’t they won’t.

More hens do not fix problems with roosters. Unless you mean a lot more hens in a huge enough space with almost no confinement. For three roosters, I would want a flock over 30 head, maybe as high as 45. They would need to be free range from dawn to dark. And even then, she might be a victim.

As to solutions IMO, if you leave her in there, they will eventually wear her out and kill her.

Free ranging for part time does not make up for too small of coop and run. A lot of issues with chicken society is too small of space.

Personally I solve for peace in the flock. I have done it both ways, removing the bully or removing the the victim. Removing the victim worked best for me. Surprisingly

Often times she will do much better in a different flock. Some birds just do not get along and trying to force it is miserable.

However, I would keep a very sharp eye on the flock, because I would not want them to pick a new victim.

This kind of discord ruins having chickens for me. I try and solve for peace. Not often but sometimes removing a bird from this flock is important animal husbandry. I understand being attached to birds, but it is important to realize the flock is not attached to her and her life and yours is miserable watching this.

You really have too many roosters, what is the size of your set up? Can you post pictures. Personally I would remove two roosters, and the victim. That would strongly increase your chance of a happy flock.
Mrs K