Chickens are mean

[crayon]

Man! I am not sure if it is my roosters mating (so kindly) or if is pecking order of the hens- but nearly all my hens have bare backs. I thought it was molting- but then 2 didn't loose feather and one went broody and got hers back....

So what to do? I am starting to feel pretty sad for my hens that have no back feathers. People are going to think we don't take care of them- but really they are very much loved and free-range all day long.

Agh- makes me sad.

 

[jdavis]

de spurr your roosters.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Have you looked at these as a possibility? http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/Chicken-Saddle-Free-shipping-p764.aspx

 

[crayon]

de spurr your roosters.

Hum.... how does one do that? They really do not have spurs yet. I just see nubs- and I did notice today that one of my roosters is a bit long- maybe 1/2 inch- but they are dull still.

Agh- maybe get rid of the roosters??? My SLW is more of a mater- but my PR (although super sweet and kind) is far more mean when he does get a hen- although they seem to out run him more than my SLW.

It seems like it is getting worse and I have about 3 hens that show no signs- then some that are starting to have feather loss on their wings now- near their backs. And one has been raw for MONTHS!

 

[Judy]

How many hens do you have, and how many roosters?

 

[derekmo5]

Get rid of the rooster. never put up with a mean rooster.

 

[crayon]

How many hens do you have, and how many roosters?

I have 2 roosters- one is nice, one not.

I have 11 adult hens- one roosters was a pullet that turned out to have boy parts! lol....

I have 12- no wait- 14 (2 eggs hatched) baby hens. (Assuming they are all pullets)...

I think a trip to the butcher is in order for Dom rooster....

 

[jdavis]

dont try and despurr them that young i didnt know they were young roosters, it sounds like your roosters are young and just starting to breed the young roos are far much harsher to the hens than most older roos in my past experience if you dont want your hens looking that way get your roosters off of them until you need fertile eggs just build a roo pen. and as far as the mean roo he needs to go derekmo5 said it all NEVER put up with a mean rooster.

 

[Judy]

I think a trip to the butcher is in order for Dom rooster....

That's my personal solution to the problem. The world is full of good roosters. Unfortunately, also of bad ones. No need to subject your hens to that. And I don't want that kind of rooster fathering chicks, anyway.

 

[RedDrgn]

They're young, so they're awkward and can be a little overzealous and extra clumsy. Hen saddles will save your girls' backs, but if the roos don't settle down in a few months, then I'd be looking for a new home for them.

Another consideration is whether it's just one or both of your roos. Usually it's the alpha roo that does a majority of the breeding of the hens, so if you figure out which one that is, I'd remove him. See how the other one does and whether or not he's so rough.

Of course, the quick/easy fix is to get rid of them both.