Rooster Jail Sentence? Life?

WARNING! RAMBLING AND DIRTY WORDS AHEAD:

This gorgeous little fucker has started being way too aggressive with my hens.

Before I chop his big stupid head off (which I almost did the other day)-

I'm giving him one last try to help him get his shit together,

because despite how tough I try to be, I absolutely adore him. He's really young, and has been a decent dude so far.

(Side Note: Thankfully I am off this week, so I am able to work with him pretty intentionally.)

Some background from the past month.

My older hen got sick early March and I isolated her for days.

I thought she was well enough to have a few hours in the sun, but I was wrong.

My new hens attacked her, and I had to keep her indoors for days before her inevitable demise (she held on strong for 19 days 😔🥹😢).

It was heartbreaking. Rest in peace, Noodle.

Lesson learned.

N-E-Wayz:

I thought that was a one off situation, because she was ill, and pecking order etc- but since then the new flock and new rooster- have been more aggressive with my last two older hens (we call them the OCs "original chickens").

My older hens are not that old, a little over 2, and in great health.

My husband and I have been keeping an extra eye on them, and separating them a bit, etc. We've let the OCs get special treatment, longer free range hours and treats etc. They have been able to co- exist with supervision.

Well, Monday I looked out the window and my rooster (9ish months old) was sparring one of the OCs and I ran to intervene.

I caught him (I have no idea how, he is sooo fast) and threw him in a pen. He has been isolated from all hens since Monday.

My sweet girl, John Cena (the irony), had feathers ripped out, thankfully no blood. Overall, I caught it early enough that her injuries were minimal.

Alas, since his incarceration for being a turd burglar:

all hens new and old seem to be getting along completely fine now without him- and I'm realizing maybe he is potentially the full aggressor/instigator.

After all of that rambling -

- How long should I keep him separated?

- How do I reintroduce him? (supervised obviously)

- Is there anything else I could do as a last ditch effort?

- Am I wasting my time?

- Do you want the rooster meat, I'm vegetarian 😔?

(more info:)

- 6 hens/ 1 rooster (was 7 hens)

- mixed breed larger hens, all young & egg laying

- huge free-range space and woods

- huge enclosed run

- enclosed coop

Thank you all!

This community rips!!!

🐓❤️🐓