Should the roo be separated?

[lablover]

That does make sense!

So if I do add 2 more hens, would that be enough? That would be 9 hens total. My coop is a 10x10 dog kennel coop, with a 28x10 run. I might add another 12 feet to the run, but is that enough room?

 

[ChickenLegs13]

9 hens & a roo...10x10 dog kennel coop = 10 sq ft per bird, 28 x 10 run = 28 sq ft per bird. That's a very roomy setup! Does he mate with the lesser hens you already have? The roo has his 4 favorite hens that he grew up with and will probaly continue to wear them out until the younger birds join the old hens clique.

 

[lablover]

The young ones have settle in, but are at low end of the pecking order. They don't always stay with the flock when they're free ranging. He did start mating with them once they started laying it seems. It is still a pretty new thing though. And yes, his top hen looks the worst.

And thanks, it is so nice to know that have a good setup, especially since they may spend quite a bit of time in there this winter. Last winter, the original flock had a chicken tractor as their coop, so this big coop will be "new" this winter for them.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I just put 10 pullets in my layer pen and the rooster wants nothing to do with them, won't even let them roost on the same perch with him. He had 5 adult hens he'd grown up with and was overmating them too. 4 are out on broody duty right now so I'm keeping an eye on him for possible overmating with his 1 remaining hen. Figure I'll boot that hen & maybe he'll hurry up and accept the pullets and take it easy on the old hens when they return from the broody box.

 

[lablover]

Yep, that's pretty much how it's gone with mine as well. When I first introduced the pullets to the flock without a fence separating them, the poor things were terrified of the rooster. They would go to the roost early to get the top spots, only to be kicked off when the older ones and the rooster went to bed. The still don't roost beside him, but his top hen is by his side every night lol.