Rooster fighting chicken!! Help!

[MichyA]

Hi...looking for some opinions/advice. I'm new to chickens and just trying to understand the whole pecking order. Last week my black silkie Fern was injured from an attack. (She's about 7 months old. Has never laid an egg but also has never crowed.) She had blood and missing feathers on head and back of her neck. Now it's clear that my rooster must have been the culprit. But what's the reasoning here? Is the black silkie actually a roo? Is my Fern a Fern"ando." I was almost positive she was a hen but she's the only one the rooster picks on. He is constantly bullying her and gets along with everyone else. I have just 4 chickens out there. I thought I had 3 hens and 1 rooster.

I have a video but I guess the file is too large to post so I'll post screen shots of the video.

In the video the rooster Pancake keeps circling the silkie Fern and then jumping on her, attempting to
grab by the neck and pecking. Fern is standing in one place in the middle and jumping/fighting back. So what's going on here? Is this a fight for dominance...do I have two Roos or does the rooster want to mate with her? I'll post pics of Fern in the comments. She's missing some head feathers from her recent fight with Pancake.

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

The rooster is trying to mate with her and she is not ready. Does she squat at all for him?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Fabulous pictures!

You have to upload any video to youtube or vimeo, then insert the link here. Would love to see that video!

I have no experience with silikies. But I do believe they will grow wattles and thin longer feathers on the crest when it is a rooster. The hens, no.

I've had a few hens and pullets briefly challenge a rooster. I have also witnessed two cockerels trying to establish dominance.

The way that black silkie is flying into the air, like a Ninja, my guess is...you have two cockerels. Fernando, is a great name!

God Bless.

 

[MichyA]

The rooster is trying to mate with her and she is not ready. Does she squat at all for him?

I'll have to watch more closely but he or she seems to stand his/her ground. After an attack like this or after feeling threatened Fern has been hiding behind the coop and isolating herself from the flock. She's definitely intimidated by him but I haven't noticed her squatting in submission.

Fabulous pictures!

You have to upload any video to youtube or vimeo, then insert the link here. Would love to see that video!

I have no experience with silikies. But I do believe they will grow wattles and thin longer feathers on the crest when it is a rooster. The hens, no.

I've had a few hens and pullets briefly challenge a rooster. I have also witnessed two cockerels trying to establish dominance.

The way that black silkie is flying into the air, like a Ninja, my guess is...you have two cockerels. Fernando, is a great name!

God Bless.

Thank you for your response! Hmm if I do have a Fernando then my ratio is probably causing an issue. 2 hens and 2 roosters probably isn't a good scenario. What would you suggest I do? Fern"ando" is a sweetheart...Pancake...not so much. Would you recommend rehoming Pancake or adding more hens to the flock? I just don't want Fern to end up getting hurt. I feel terrible that he/she keeps isolating herself in fear.

 

[tuesdaylove]

I have no idea how to sex a Silkie, personally. If you have Fernando, then the beatings will probably continue and escalate possibly into real fights one day -- the Silkie will eventually fight back. Even if you have Fern, I have had experience with roosters singling out one hen that they hate and trying to kill them. I don't know why they'd do that, but it's possible.

Once you figure out Silkie's gender, I'd say your best options are: if he's a male, I would personally re-home the more aggressive of the roosters, and if she's a female, I'd add a few more hens to the flock to see if that draws Pancake's attention away from her.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes...I didn't see the other cockerel trying to mount Fern, in any of the pictures.

Sometimes, a rooster just doesn't like a hen, and vice versa. And if Fern is a hen, it is not acceptable for the rooster to hurt her!

But, if they keep sparring off, that could be rooster dominance. It is possible that Fern(nando), will submit to the beta position. But, you will have to be vigilant, cockerels are revved up on hormones! Some roosters will drive off another roo, even if they grew up together. I've had this happen, a few years ago in my flock. I decided to re-home two roosters. Luckily, I was able to find good homes for them.

Perhaps, you can find a good home for Pancake. Some keepers want a take charge rooster. Pancake is a beautiful rooster, too.

A peaceful flock is always easier on all of the chickens, the keeper too!

It's a tough decision, as, we always want to keep all the chicks we've raised. But, a keeper must consider the flock, in it's entirety.

God Bless.

 

[MichyA]

I have no idea how to sex a Silkie, personally. If you have Fernando, then the beatings will probably continue and escalate possibly into real fights one day -- the Silkie will eventually fight back. Even if you have Fern, I have had experience with roosters singling out one hen that they hate and trying to kill them. I don't know why they'd do that, but it's possible.

Once you figure out Silkie's gender, I'd say your best options are: if he's a male, I would personally re-home the more aggressive of the roosters, and if she's a female, I'd add a few more hens to the flock to see if that draws Pancake's attention away from her.

Thank you, that's really good advice. I know it's hard to tell with the silkies...but "Fern" has no walnut comb...and looks exactly like his sister who just started laying two weeks ago. I guess time
will tell. Just hope Fern doesn't get hurt while I'm waiting to figure out his/her gender.

 

[MichyA]

Yes...I didn't see the other cockerel trying to mount Fern, in any of the pictures.

Sometimes, a rooster just doesn't like a hen, and vice versa. And if Fern is a hen, it is not acceptable for the rooster to hurt her!

But, if they keep sparring off, that could be rooster dominance. It is possible that Fern(nando), will submit to the beta position. But, you will have to be vigilant, cockerels are revved up on hormones! Some roosters will drive off another roo, even if they grew up together. I've had this happen, a few years ago in my flock. I decided to re-home two roosters. Luckily, I was able to find good homes for them.

Perhaps, you can find a good home for Pancake. Some keepers want a take charge rooster. Pancake is a beautiful rooster, too.

A peaceful flock is always easier on all of the chickens, the keeper too!

It's a tough decision, as, we always want to keep all the chicks we've raised. But, a keeper must consider the flock, in it's entirety.

God Bless.

Thank you! I do want them to be happy and get along. Maybe Pancake would be happier on a larger farm with more hens to choose from. He seems to be a pretty aggressive rooster and even if Fern is a Fernando...he's very sweet and gentle...and would probably be happier in my small flock.

 

[Squishychicken]

if you decide to get more hens for silkie roos and fern ends up being male you should have 7 hens per roo so that's 12 more chickens...

I would get rid of the one you don't like the most

 

[MichyA]

if you decide to get more hens for silkie roos and fern ends up being male you should have 7 hens per roo so that's 12 more chickens...

I would get rid of the one you don't like the most

Bye bye pancake

Aww I feel bad saying that...but I'm more attached to sweet Fern"ando"