Any other options besides a hen apron?

[greggooo]

Hi there!

Does anyone have suggestions for protecting the back of their hens from an active rooster BESIDES a hen apron? The aprons are working on all but one of our hens. She has lost the feathers on the upper part of her wings. I know that Hen Saver makes one that protects shoulders as well, but it comes with a strap that goes around their neck and that seems super risky to me. She is the most skittish and I am afraid she would hang herself.

Thank you!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I would remove that rooster. I can't say I blame her for being skittish! Is your rooster younger? How many hens/pullets do you have for him?

 

[rebrascora]

I agree. Remove the rooster. I'm guessing he is more of a cockerel (a rooster under a year old) or maybe just over a year or you don't have enough girls. Even with an apron, she is obviously still being overmated and is most likely stressed by his attentions, so put him in time out and give her a chance to heal and him some time for his hormones to settle and become less demanding.

 

[greggooo]

She has been skittish since she was a chick. We only have 5 hens. We are going to get 3 more in about a month and a half. Problem is, 3 of the hens are Ameraucanas, and while I love them, they keep going broody and my two little easter eggers are stuck there with the rooster on their own. We will start a 'time out' and see if that helps. But he IS just a year old. Are they over active their first year?

I absolutely love what he does for them (finding food, protecting them, etc), and he is generally a sweet boy, he cuddles and is handled very easily. I am just hoping that he calms down. I will try and separate them first.

I also ordered a new hen apron that covers shoulders.

Thank you!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

What kind of rooster do you have? I haven't personally tried it, but I read a post on here the other day about putting the rooster in a separate pen with the broody hen to break her. I'll try to find it for you.

 

[greggooo]

What kind of rooster do you have? I haven't personally tried it, but I read a post on here the other day about putting the rooster in a separate pen with the broody hen to break her. I'll try to find it for you.

Please let me know if you find it! He is an Easter Egger. Generally a great little guy, and cuddly, just over mating.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

He's really handsome! I'm having trouble finding it now. @KikisGirls was it you that was telling someone about a BYC member that isolates their persistent broodies with a rooster?

 

[Kiki]

He's really handsome! I'm having trouble finding it now. @KikisGirls was it you that was telling someone about a BYC member that isolates their persistent broodies with a rooster?

No, wasn't me.
I'll see if I can find the post now.