I have 5 hens (thanks to fox eating 3) and two roosters. The roosters are wearing out my hens to the point of them having bloody wounds on their sides. My daughter has taken a shine to the big, goofy looking rooster so it would be hard to cull him. The other rooster has beautiful plumage and good size, an excellent candidate for father hood. I will cull him, but want to increase my flock in the spring the old fashioned way before he goes. I tried placing saddles on the hens but they don't always stay in place. At present I have the hens residing in the coop and run with the roosters sleeping in the run at night and free ranging during the day. So they are separated to give the hens time to heal. Don't want to build another coop but think my current set up won't last until March or April when one of my hens becomes broody. I guess I could just have goofy looking chickens! Ha HA! I have Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
