A-Lott of Chickens
In the Brooder
- Jun 25, 2023
- 7
- 5
- 11
I have one rooster (accidental)...a Buff Orpington with 16 hens, one year old. He overbreeds them and they are all losing feathers, some have big bald spots. I've tried chicken aprons, but then they show up with bald spots on their wings. I'm not sure what else to do. He's a beautiful bird and not aggressive unless I'm walking with food in my hand across the yard. I could keep him, but with so many hens he shouldn't be overbreeding from what I've read. I could separate him into a separate coop, but he'd be able to see and hear the hens...and with no other roosters, he'd be by himself. I'm also not sure exactly how I'd catch him without help. I'm willing to separate him if he won't be too stressed, but he may be lonely. I'm also not sure how long he'd have to be separated to let the hens start to grow feathers again. Maybe I should find a new home for him. I've never had to dispatch one and prepare it, so not ready to do that myself. Does anyone have advice or tips? Also, do roosters calm down? If I knew he was likely to calm down after hitting a certain age, that would help.