Why are my hens attacking our only new rooster?

[The Moonshiner]

Read my whole post, dear.

Let me go back and read it.
Sorry, when it didn't start out with "Moony told me," I didn't know if I could take it seriously. My bad, Dear

 

[Folly's place]

Separating special needs birds may be necessary at any time, but then reintroducing them probably won't go well, ever again.
And an adolescent cockerel isn't at all the same as an adult rooster, so what happened isn't suprising. if things are calmer, great!
If he had been an adult, things might have gone differently, but don't worry about it now.
Mary

 

[aart]

So some of the hens are 1 year old. The others are 7 months along with the rooster.

Did you add the younger females along with the male?
How many birds of each age group?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

 

[cowgirlatheart]

Let me go back and read it.
Sorry, when it didn't start out with "Moony told me," I didn't know if I could take it seriously. My bad, Dear

 

[Double Yolked]

Some roosters just don't get along with the hens. Some do.
When I brought home Chuckles my best rooster, I put him in a quarantine pen within sight of but separate from the hens. After a week or two of watching him from afar the hens decided they liked his looks, took matters into their own beaks, flew over my before unfly-overable fence and I came out to find the whole flock minus one fat old hen who couldn't fly, cuddled around his pen all crooning and talking to him. He and the ladies got along great for the rest of his life. Best rooster I ever had. Took good care of his flock and was never mean. I am firming in favor of keeping them apart until the hens decide he is OK.

 

[Rooster Giddens]

He's an adolescent cockerel, and your adult hens aren't impressed. Is anyone being injured? Do you have lots of space, places to be out of sight, and multiple feeders and waterers?
And those production red type hens can be pretty tough cookies...
Aside from that, is he ill, do your birds have mites or lice? Are they eating layer, or a higher protein all-flock type diet?
Mary

He may not be mature enough to breed,yet! Once he gets started then the hens will regret ever being mean to him!!

 

[Miss Valerie]

Pecking order is real and dependent on physical size. Male or female unfortunately. If a Roo, he'll be fighting for 'order' as it is so, I would move him quick. I have about 3 different age groups with 10+ at a time joining oldest flock. Protection in numbers, a slow meet and greet, room to escape the big mean bitties and easy food access for smaller birds.
Just my 2 cents

 

[Andrea5718]

Nope.
Just throw them together and let them work it out.
They're gonna squabble either way.

Definitely not!! Segregate them for awhile. When you finally put them together he needs to be old enough to take charge. After taking the top spot from the dominant female, she then will become the second in charge. Pecking order has to be achieved to have a happy flock.

 

[Chickenclaude]

Hmmm....when he becomes an adult...the worm may turn.

 

[Andrea5718]

Another thing, do I remove my special needs chickens from the rooster and other hens? We have a chicken with a broken leg and another that is blind. They are so vulnerable that they can't move around that good.

Do remove your special needs ladies to a protective area. I have two myself. One is almost ten and has arthritic feet. She could not support the weight of the roo on top of her and screams if he tries. I feel for the old lady as I too have arthritis! The other is younger and was attacked by the other females when she was younger and they pretty much scalped her. So my two ladies "room" together in their own space. The old one doesn't lay anymore, but still deserves to live out her life in peace. I can't imagine your two poor girls with a young inexperienced roo. They would be the ones he could catch and have his way with... probably way too often! ....just sayin'