This is my first year owning chickens. I have two young roosters, each around six months old, who grew up together as buddies without any issues, along with two hens. (in photo during younger non conflict days)
Eight weeks ago, I introduced them to my existing flock of eight hens, bringing the total flock to two roosters and ten hens. That integration was successful albeit, inevitably created rooster leadership issues.
Stripey, the smaller rooster, seems to have hit puberty first. He’s been crowing for about three months and shows strong leadership and protective behavior toward the hens. He’s alert , protective, an organiser, , with a wonderful vibrant and happy personality—definitely my favorite.
Ebony, a larger rooster, started crowing three weeks ago and seems to have began trying to assert himself as flock leader. Over the last few days, he’s been initiating fights with Stripey. I noticed Stripey had minor bloody injuries on his face and comb from a fight 3 days ago, and when they free-range 2 days ago, Ebony continues to chase and attack him. Stripey has started to submit and flee from Ebony rather than engage. I also noticed yesterday that after a few half hearted chases, Ebony didn’t pursue stripy any further.
Using guidance from many discussions in this group, to give both of them a break, I separated Ebony into his own run/cop for a day, out of sight of main run, but still in audio reach. When I let them free-range again, I noticed that Stripey no longer tried to fight back; he’d immediately submit and run when Ebony chased him.
Yesterday I placed Ebony in a separate caged area within the main run (with two hens for company), so everyone could see and hear each other but they slept apart. Stripey stayed in the coop.
Today, when I let them all out together to free-range, there was no fighting, but I noticed Stripey seemed different—subdued, lethargic, and lacking his usual energy. He even refused mealworms from my hand, which is unusual for him. He seemed ‘defeated’. i felt really sad for him and about the whole situation, as Stripy is the first chicken i’ve ever got emotionally attached to and wanted him to be flock leader.
To be fair to Ebony, given he’s matured later, he hasn’t had a chance yet to show his leadership skills, nor has he ever been vicious, or nasty, simply just acting on his ingrained instincts.
I have some questions:
1. Has Stripey fully submitted to Ebony, and has Ebony accepted this? I read that if a rooster fight draws blood, it’s rarely solvable?
2. If I let them sleep together in the coop, will Ebony leave Stripey alone?
3. If Ebony is now the dominant rooster, I’ll accept it, but I’m feeling sad for Stripey, who was always my beautiful, confident boy. What does his future look like within this flock?
4. i noticed that Stripy was still mating with some of the hens today, while Ebony was also doing same. what does that indicate?
5. How can I tell if Ebony is a good leader for the flock, and what will Stripey’s future role be and will he regain his previous positive personality?
Eight weeks ago, I introduced them to my existing flock of eight hens, bringing the total flock to two roosters and ten hens. That integration was successful albeit, inevitably created rooster leadership issues.
Stripey, the smaller rooster, seems to have hit puberty first. He’s been crowing for about three months and shows strong leadership and protective behavior toward the hens. He’s alert , protective, an organiser, , with a wonderful vibrant and happy personality—definitely my favorite.
Ebony, a larger rooster, started crowing three weeks ago and seems to have began trying to assert himself as flock leader. Over the last few days, he’s been initiating fights with Stripey. I noticed Stripey had minor bloody injuries on his face and comb from a fight 3 days ago, and when they free-range 2 days ago, Ebony continues to chase and attack him. Stripey has started to submit and flee from Ebony rather than engage. I also noticed yesterday that after a few half hearted chases, Ebony didn’t pursue stripy any further.
Using guidance from many discussions in this group, to give both of them a break, I separated Ebony into his own run/cop for a day, out of sight of main run, but still in audio reach. When I let them free-range again, I noticed that Stripey no longer tried to fight back; he’d immediately submit and run when Ebony chased him.
Yesterday I placed Ebony in a separate caged area within the main run (with two hens for company), so everyone could see and hear each other but they slept apart. Stripey stayed in the coop.
Today, when I let them all out together to free-range, there was no fighting, but I noticed Stripey seemed different—subdued, lethargic, and lacking his usual energy. He even refused mealworms from my hand, which is unusual for him. He seemed ‘defeated’. i felt really sad for him and about the whole situation, as Stripy is the first chicken i’ve ever got emotionally attached to and wanted him to be flock leader.
To be fair to Ebony, given he’s matured later, he hasn’t had a chance yet to show his leadership skills, nor has he ever been vicious, or nasty, simply just acting on his ingrained instincts.
I have some questions:
1. Has Stripey fully submitted to Ebony, and has Ebony accepted this? I read that if a rooster fight draws blood, it’s rarely solvable?
2. If I let them sleep together in the coop, will Ebony leave Stripey alone?
3. If Ebony is now the dominant rooster, I’ll accept it, but I’m feeling sad for Stripey, who was always my beautiful, confident boy. What does his future look like within this flock?
4. i noticed that Stripy was still mating with some of the hens today, while Ebony was also doing same. what does that indicate?
5. How can I tell if Ebony is a good leader for the flock, and what will Stripey’s future role be and will he regain his previous positive personality?
