Hen Picking on Rooster?

Backfourty,MI. · #1 08/17/12, 08:57 AM

This is the first time we've ever had chickens so I'm not sure what to do. We got a Cochin Rooster, Cochin hen who has 9 chicks with her that she hatched out.

The hen is a little over a year old, the chicks are feathered out but I forgot to ask how old they were when we picked them up Tuesday. The rooster though is from an early spring Hatch & the Hen keeps picking on him. I think because he's so young she knows she can.

We've put all kinds of brush in the pen which is 20 feet X 16 feet not counting the house so he can hide in it & try & stay away from the hen but she will actually go after him if he comes out to feed.

We plan on free ranging them hopefully in a couple weeks when they know their new surroundings & give the chicks more time to grow since I'm afraid the barn cat might get them 1 by 1.
I have been locking the rooster up in a crate at night so he's not stuck in the house with the hen all night.

When will she leave him alone or anything I can do to help it along?

suelandress · #2 08/17/12, 09:41 AM

LOL. Dont fret over it. She'll probably leave him be when her chicks are on their own. Every rooster needs a good hen-pecking

mamaC11 · #3 08/17/12, 10:37 AM

We're kind having the same issue here. We just put our rooster back in with his hens after a few weeks separation and they are beating the snot out of him! I feel bad for him. He's such a handsome boy, seems like they'd be excited to see him

I normally watch for a few days to make sure it isn't getting out of hand and that there aren't any bad wounds.

KSALguy · #4 08/17/12, 01:48 PM

any time you take a bird out of the flock for a length of time and put it back the pecking order has to be reset, normally roosters assert them self as top bird and it settles down quickly, but young immature birds can be easily bullied, once he gets his hormones kicking he will be fine, do not take him out, let him stay in and learn his place, you keep resetting things by adding and removeing him, they dont do anything but sleep at night anyway,

irregardless · #5 08/17/12, 05:14 PM

I'd kill to have a hen as top dog in my flock... Hens seem to love me, but roosters... not so much.

Backfourty,MI. · #6 08/17/12, 09:54 PM

OK, I lock him up with the hen & chicks tomorrow night & see how he is the next morning.
I just feel bad for the little bugger & I hate to see anything get picked on even though I know it's nature. We just picked them up Tuesday & have never had chickens before.

I sure do like these little chickens though. Both the hen & rooster are very friendly & like to be held & petted. The chicks run but aren't too bad once you have a hold of it. Very pretty birds. Tiny eggs though so it's a good thing dh just wanted them for pets although he's looking forward to eating them.

Uncle JD · #7 08/18/12, 09:40 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. He will take over the flock soon enough. That hen just thinks she is protecting those chicks.

blessings,

jd

Backfourty,MI. · #8 08/19/12, 08:55 PM

Well tonight will be his 2nd night locked up with the hen & chicks & so far he's still alive & no blood drawn yet so I guess that's a good sign.