Oh my... should I be concerned? I have two roosters. My RIR is low man on the totem pole and the hens run from him and the other roo beats him up. The ducks USED to pick on him as well until today. LOL... Rose, my RIR, is trying to mate with them now. I saw him mount them at least twice today, and I saw him chase them around TRYING. I thought it was hilarious because they were always chasing HIM and banging him with their beaks....that is, until today! Should I worry? I mean i KNOW they won't make babies, but can he hurt them? They are Pekin ducks. He had a few feathers in his beak and some on his feet too at one point today.
Hi Fisher, The itinerary of critters that you listed indicates that you have at most 8 hens (not counting the two chicks) and 2 roosters. IMO, too many roosters for such a low number of hens. I like to keep the rooster/hen ratio to about 1/10 to keep the hens from getting shredded and the roosters from getting beat up. If you want to ensure fertile eggs, try 1/7 or 1/8 ratio. The issue with the ducks sounds fascinating! I've raised turkeys, geese, ducks and chickens in proximity (not the best idea due to cross-infection of various diseases harmless to one species but serious in others), but never had the situation you described arise! I suspect that you can improve the situation by adding more hens, or adopting out one of the roosters. Best wishes!
Oh Rotnguns.. I am totally aware that I have one too many roosters. Rose was supposed to be a pullet and we just haven't had the heart to send him away yet. More hens is out of the question. I am so afraid that the day that I get rid of Rose, something will kill Rusty and I will wish that I had that other rooster. There is a family in my town that has RIRs... so if they day comes, I am pretty sure as to whom I will speak to about rehoming him. Then I have to convince my husband. He wants to keep Rose.. I want to keep Rusty.
the chickens sleep together and the ducks sleep together. I let the ducks free range all day and sometimes I let Rose out too to stretch his legs... he won't go into the run with the chickens. This is why Rose was able to get near the ducks. I cannot build any more pens. I will play this out. Eventually, one rooster will go. But not yet.
