What Rooster Breed for Mixed Coop

[chickens really]

Well. Chicken keeping should be fun. I have enough space and free ranged my Birds daily. I never introduced outside Birds but allowed my Hens to hatch Chicks right in with the flock. I had a really good Rooster and all my Birds got along great. That's until they didn't..
The Pullets would be laying for a couple of months and then in a matter of moments the Fock would attack the Pullet to a bloody mess. Happened twice so I got rid of the entire flock. I now have no stress..I have Silkies now and everyone is calm..

 

[RoosterML]

I now have no stress..I have Silkies now and everyone is calm..

Yeah but silkies. Are those even chickens???
Just kidding, stirring the pot that's all.

 

[chickens really]

Yeah but silkies. Are those even chickens???
Just kidding, stirring the pot that's all.

No..I tell everyone I'm Chickenless now. Unless people consider Silkie Chickens?....I don't but have them..

 

[123RedBeard]

I don't think a cock will solve the problem ... sounds like you need to get rid of the trouble maker.

 

[NewBoots]

There is a risk of the bully hen getting on the rooster's good side and him still allowing her to be that way. Roosters will keep favorites.

This made me laugh out loud, but I guess it only makes sense.

We will have a small flock (4 to 6) of hens with no plan to add a rooster. Do we need to to keep them less aggressive? Are some breeds softer crowers? Silly question I'm sure.

 

[Compost King]

If you are still set on getting a rooster I would get a young cockerel that starts at the bottom of the pecking order. This is so the bully hen turns her aggressions on him giving your low pecking order chickens a break and a chance to reestablish themselves. Eventually he will rooster up and the worst bullies will be kept in line by the rooster... this does not always work out as nice and sweet as I painted it... there are better solutions than having a rooster move in and solve it for you. It may make things worse.

 

[Cyprus]

I would get a heat hardy breed.
Fayoumi, Buttercup, Andalusian, Ancona, Legbar....
I think you should look into hen glasses.

 

[Compost King]

The more I think about what breed I would have for the one rooster in a mixed flock I would go with an Old English Game Bantam. They aren't big enough to hurt smaller hens but they can be feisty. That's if you like the idea of a smaller rooster, I like the idea of a rooster that doesn't eat much at the feeder. That breed may be too small for the task though however I like the idea of a bantam rooster in general because why pay so much to feed a bird who isn't dropping eggs?

 

[Folly's place]

I think that there's an issue with the feed too. Layer feed is meant for smaller laying hens, with nothing else fed. your diet is too low in protein, at least. Try an all-flock feed with 18% to 20% protein, like Flock Raiser, with oyster shell on the side, and very little scratch fed as a treat only.
Your bully hen may improve with a better diet, but likely not, and needs to move elsewhere. One bird like that disrupts everyone, not only her current victim.
I do like having roosters in my flock, but they can add both good and bad things to the group. Because I never add outside birds (biosecurity!) only chicks raised here become flock roosters. You could adopt a cockerel from someone else, or buy chicks in spring and raise your favorite cockerel out of that group.
Mary

 

[pepe1]

I have two groups of 12 hens and have an Easter Egger Rooster in each coop, they run towards any squabble between hens and seem to me to keep the peace they are not aggressive towards my grand children or me, i added 6 pullets to one coo[ 2 months ago with very little trouble, this has worked for me, hope this helps.