Black Copper Marans Roo Integration

[shsesc]

I have a new addition to my flock of 6 pullets age 11-13 weeks. I got a Black Copper Marans Cockerel about 8-9 weeks old and it seems the pullets are really picking on him. How much is too much? There is a tiny bit of blood. In 1 hour the 6 pullets did the damage over his rear end (actually 3 of them did most of it)...



Our Buff Orpington in particular, charges and mounts him. One Welsummer charged him several times and the ISA Brown pecked at his back.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Once he is a full sized roo they will stop. Right now that they have never had a roo they are attempting to realign the pecking order. Once he grows into full size, they will think twice about that. Hens who have never had a roo have to get used to them.

 

[shsesc]

Once he is a full sized roo they will stop. Right now that they have never had a roo they are attempting to realign the pecking order. Once he grows into full size, they will think twice about that. Hens who have never had a roo have to get used to them.

So only intervene if there is an open wound?

 

[Chickassan]

Did you slowly introduce the guy or did you just toss him in? If you just tossed him you might have to give him a little space to himself but still let the ladies see him.This is a weird one, not going to lie it's usually the other way around. I've never seen a rooster get harassed.

 

[shsesc]

Did you slowly introduce the guy or did you just toss him in? If you just tossed him you might have to give him a little space to himself but still let the ladies see him.This is a weird one, not going to lie it's usually the other way around. I've never seen a rooster get harassed.

I thought he would hold his own better, I put him in the run with them while I was there and they were a little catty, but in about 45 minutes he had a patch missing and in the time it took to get the blue lotion(hen healer they did not have blue kote lotion only spray) at the feed store down the street another patch appeared to be bare. The hen healer is minty smelling and light blue but does not deter them enough, I'm going to leave them in one section of the coop and put him in another for the night and see how they get along tomorrow morning.

 

[Chickassan]

Poor fella, really is getting henpecked. Good luck to both of y'all tomorrow.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

So only intervene if there is an open wound?

With wound spray. But FBCM grow fast and they have a tendency to grow large. He won't be picked on for long.

 

[aart]

Still babies all....thread title misleading.
Adding an adult cockbird is the easiest integration of all.

I'd house them side by side, separated by wire, then mix and match who's with who in which enclosure until they get used to each other. This can get you over the prodigious hump of integrating single bird.

Watch for blood/pin feathers being broken and continuing to bleed.
I've had to fully pluck them using hemostats when corn starch did not staunch the bleeding.

I've found the blue stuff to attract as much pecking attention and blood can.
The bird it is applied to may try to preen it off, opening any wounds.

Integration tips:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.