Young Rooster Being Bullied by Three Older Hens

[joebryant]

I recently put a six-month-old rooster in with three one-year-old hens that had been with another older, aggressive rooster for several months. They seem determined to make this young rooster's life miserable; they won't even let him feed or drink, and they make him sleep in the drop pan under their roost.
He just doesn't seem to want to try to defend himself and cowers in corners or wherever he can hide from them. Meanwhile, I let him out to feed and water him; also, I've removed the meanest hen. He did well with one when I removed two hens temporarily, but when I put one back he had trouble with two.
Q: Will he take charge when he gets older?
Q: Has anyone ever had a young rooster that didn't "take charge" eventually?

 

[Kim_NC]

Q: Will he take charge when he gets older? Yes
Q: Has anyone ever had a young rooster that didn't "take charge" eventually? No

I've deliberately put cockerels who were bullying pullets (hogging the feeder, chasing from water, pecking/dominating for no reason, other aggression) in with older hens to "take them down a peg". They always learn a tough lesson for a couple months. But eventually they do take charge in a very gentlemanly way and become very nice flock roos.

I've also moved "docile" 2nd rung cockerels out of pens to get them away from alpha roos. They are usually pushed around by older hens for awhile too. But they take charge as well and are great flock roos.

Unless the hens draw blood (highly unlikely since he's 6 mo old), I wouldn't worry.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
WOW! Thanks, Kim_NC, that's all great news because I really need this little guy for my breeding program. I put him back in the pen with the truly-fantastic rooster that he has bonded with and looks to for protection. I'll leave him there for another month to grow up more.
EDIT: I've put his brother, same age, in with those three terrorist hens, and he's breeding them. He's not the color that I want, but he'll have to do for a while until the scaredy-cat grows up a little more.

 

[Kim_NC]

Terrorist hens...lol, too funny. I'll have to remember that one to use at an appropriate time. Holy smoke, amazing that they allowed the brother cockerel to breed right away. He must be the persausive type.

 

[Mrs Tizzler]

Appreciate it's been more than a little while since you posted about this (I googled 'cockerel being bullied' and got this result!). I'd be really interested to know if he did take charge and how long it took to happen.

You can probably guess why I'm asking. I've had my 20 week old chap for a week now, I've had to partition him off from my four older girls (who I've had a year), the two bossy ones have gone bat crazy at him. They're all marans by the way and he's twice the size of the girls but a right pansy at the moment.....

 

[Dhkoenig]

Quote:

WOW! Thanks, Kim_NC, that's all great news because I really need this little guy for my breeding program. I put him back in the pen with the truly-fantastic rooster that he has bonded with and looks to for protection. I'll leave him there for another month to grow up more.
EDIT: I've put his brother, same age, in with those three terrorist hens, and he's breeding them. He's not the color that I want, but he'll have to do for a while until the scaredy-cat grows up a little more.

Hi - so what was your outcome as your roo grew up? I am in the same situation where my 5 month old roo is getting bullied and pushed around my my adult buff hens

 

[Dhkoenig]

I recently put a six-month-old rooster in with three one-year-old hens that had been with another older, aggressive rooster for several months. They seem determined to make this young rooster's life miserable; they won't even let him feed or drink, and they make him sleep in the drop pan under their roost.
He just doesn't seem to want to try to defend himself and cowers in corners or wherever he can hide from them. Meanwhile, I let him out to feed and water him; also, I've removed the meanest hen. He did well with one when I removed two hens temporarily, but when I put one back he had trouble with two.
Q: Will he take charge when he gets older?
Q: Has anyone ever had a young rooster that didn't "take charge" eventually?

I know a lot of time has gone by since this post so you doubtless know the outcome. I am in that same situation - I have a 5 month old rooster in with older hens and they are SO MEAN to him!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Older hens actually teach roosters to be gentlemen. I like it.

 

[TXKukupantsKoop]

Just acquired a 3-4 month old cockerel. I have 17 adult hens. I understand pecking order and such but last night they almost killed him. No blood but cornered him. 4 on his back area pecking and two on his head that was through a fence that they forced him in. I was standing there when it happened. It was like a frenzy. He's docile and is not very assertive at all. I'm now keeping him separated (see but not touch) in an alleyway between two of the runs. He came from a friend who didn't have much room and so this young guy had no experience in being in a bigger setup or even roosting. He roosts with the hens but we have to put him on the roost and only when it's dark enough that that hens leave him alone.

I thought that maybe he's vitamin deficient or something so I'm giving him a top dressing on his food in the mornings. He seems depressed. Doesn't scratch in the dirt either which I thought was weird. Poop is normal and his comb/wattles are bright and red.

In the below pics, his run in behind the white lattice.

Thoughts?