A young roo

[Mrs. K]

I have a young roo. He is ten months old, and treats me with respect, giving me enough space. He seems to be developing the more gentlemanly traits, feeding his girls the choice bits, keeping fair track of them, and I have seen the wing dance once.

There for a while, he was jumping any hen that had a pulse, all the time. I tried not to let him do in front of me, as I have read here, that it helps keep them respectful, but nonetheless, my eggs have about 100% fertility, which is good, as I just put a clutch under a hen.

However, my 7 hens are getting a bit barebacked. Now recently, he does not seem to be quite as active, as he was. He does not have real long spurs, maybe a 1/2 inch. What I am wondering is will his technique improve, and the girls feathers grow back, or do I need to cull him, and try a new roo next year?

Is this just his age? Or do all roos cause this damage, and the only cure is no roo? I tried aprons, and they did not stay on any longer than 3 days.

Mrs.K

 

[gritsar]

My Thor was bad about tearing the hens backs up the first year or so of his life. After that I could put the saddles away, except for his favorite hen. Just something about the two of them; they don't fit together well.

 

[Mrs. K]

good, I am thinking that while they are all looking a bit bared back, they do not seem to mind, and if this is just a young roos trait, well it is a vice he will out grow, and if I cull him, I am going to have another young roo.

Will keep him a bit longer. mk

 

[gritsar]

Mrs. K :

good, I am thinking that while they are all looking a bit bared back, they do not seem to mind, and if this is just a young roos trait, well it is a vice he will out grow, and if I cull him, I am going to have another young roo.

Will keep him a bit longer. mk

Best of luck

. As a big roo lover, it bothers me that the roos always get the blame. Me thinks sometimes it's just not a good fit between the roo and the hen. If she is shaped a certain way, he can't mount properly.

Young roos do grow out of alot of their testosterone poisoning for which I am very thankful.