Young chicks attacking older hens

[Gordon10]

We have gradually introduced our new hatchlings placing their temporary coop next to the older ones coop and they have grazed and scratched near each other for a few days without issue.

Our older hens are all hens and there are 4 of them. The new recruits are unknown yet although we suspect one of them at least to be a Cockerell, much bigger than the other and comb development came very early.

When putting them in for the night last night for the first night together, the suspected Cockerell flared up with one of the hens, after puffed chests it ended there and then with the young Cockerell backing down.

Today has been the opposite with the Cockerell attacking two of the existing hens repeatedly with the most submissive getting it on the comb. When the Cockerell goes for one of the older ones the other 3 young ones do too.

Anything wee can do or just have to sit back and let the fireworks go until they work it out. Should we keep them cooped up until sorted or let them out tomorrow and see how they interact?

 

[The Coop Crew]

I’m really surprised the older hens aren’t teaching the younger ones a lesson lol
I’m assuming they are establishing a new pecking order. I would say if they aren’t drawing blood or seriously hurting each other to let them sort it out.

 

[aart]

Our older hens are all hens and there are 4 of them.

How old, in weeks or months, are both these groups?

 

[Gordon10]

Everyone is young, the older hens are about 18 months old. The younger ones are 10 weeks old.

The one that wee think is a male starts most of it but the other young ones follow suit.

Only when they are on the ground though. The older ones can roost the younger ones are less inclined too, which is a blessing.

I'm just surprised because I thought we were gonna witness it in the opposite direction.

 

[LaFleche]

Maybe provide some pictures of the young ones for us to see if there are more males among them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks for the ages. How big is the coop you are trying to put them in and how much roosts do you have? With a total of 8 chickens that coop may not be very large. My brooder-raised chicks tend to not roost until they are around 10 to 12 weeks old so you may see that soon.

How much room did they have when the cockerel attacked the hen? Were they in a fairly small area or did they have enough room to separate a lot?

10 weeks is really young for this. I've seen cockerels a month or more older than those harass hens but not that young. It sounds like you have a very precocious cockerel. People like to think that these things always go one way but they don't. Sometimes the hens beat up on the cockerels. Sometimes the cockerels beat up on the hens. Sometimes it is pretty peaceful. But 10 weeks is really young for this to be going this way.

What are your goals for those young ones? Do you want a rooster? It might be a good idea to decide how badly you want to keep a male.