KnittingChick3
Chirping
- May 19, 2017
- 35
- 79
- 69
I'm wondering if there is a point when a rooster shows too much attention to one hen? I brought this girl in to give her a bath since her bum feathers get really poopy, for whatever reason (perhaps it's related?)
I knew she had some treading damage to her feathers and she's been wearing a hen saddle, but I didn't realize the damaged feathers were this extensive.
It's pretty much her whole back from shoulders to tail and goes down the sides pretty far under her wings. The pictures only show about half the damage since she didn't want to stand still for her photo.
I have 8 hens (2 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Gold Laced Wyandottes, 2 Speckled Sussex, & 1 White Leghorn) and 1 rooster. You would think that would be plenty to spread the love around... but the other hens hardly let him near. They'll follow him around for treats and what-not, but they won't let him mate; only the Buff Orpingtons. Every time he approaches one of the others, she squawks at him and steps away. (He's a nice rooster and doesn't try to assault them or anything, he just walks away.)
Does anyone know- is this normal hen/rooster behavior?
Is it because the Buffs are more docile?
Is the damage getting too bad for even the saddle?
I knew she had some treading damage to her feathers and she's been wearing a hen saddle, but I didn't realize the damaged feathers were this extensive.
It's pretty much her whole back from shoulders to tail and goes down the sides pretty far under her wings. The pictures only show about half the damage since she didn't want to stand still for her photo.
I have 8 hens (2 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Gold Laced Wyandottes, 2 Speckled Sussex, & 1 White Leghorn) and 1 rooster. You would think that would be plenty to spread the love around... but the other hens hardly let him near. They'll follow him around for treats and what-not, but they won't let him mate; only the Buff Orpingtons. Every time he approaches one of the others, she squawks at him and steps away. (He's a nice rooster and doesn't try to assault them or anything, he just walks away.)
Does anyone know- is this normal hen/rooster behavior?
Is it because the Buffs are more docile?
Is the damage getting too bad for even the saddle?