Do I want this rooster? Update: He killed a hen Update: Sunday

[Barred Rocks forever]

seems like a keeper to me maybe u can get some chicks out of him ?

 

[JetBlack]

Um... those come out of the *girl* chickens.

And I thought I was new.

j/k. I know what you meant

 

[DDRanch]

I am heartbroken. Everything has been going so well. This morning I let them out and he took 1/2 down to the orchard for a dustbath.
I left them down there for a couple of hours and then went down to herd them back up the hill. They followed him and I brought up the rear.
I will make a long story short......I walked up the path, the chickens walking up the hill, separated by a fence. I got to the top of the hill first and
saw him jump one of my Delawares backwards from the mating position. He looked quite fierce with flapping wings more than I have seen. I yelled at
him and started down the hill towards. The Delaware was crying. He jumped off and the Delaware couldn't get up. By the time I reached her, in seconds,
she died in my arms.

I am heartbroken. Why did this happen? Did I miss something? My dear sweet hen.

They are locked up, without him. He is circling the pen.
Anne

 

[muell112]

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!!! I've had my rooster occasionally be aggressive with my hens (and I am not sure why) but it has never escalated like that and he has never come close to injuring them. I am so so sorry for your sweet hen. I really have no idea why he would have done that and will be curious if anyone else has any insight.

 

[MaggieRae]

Oh I'm so sorry...

 

[chickenzoo]

Oh my goodness... I am so sorry! That seems very unusual...... was there blood? Did he tear up her side or something? They often flap about to keep balance, and I have seen some of my roos rough with a hen, but never kill one that wasn't ill. Strange.....

 

[manderzpants]

omg thats so horrible

 

[rancher hicks]

He difinitely has to go to the big coop in the sky. I have no idea why he did what he did. Perhaps she was the matriarch of the flock up until he came along. Remember the flock split up? Perhaps half wanted to go with him and half wanted to follow her. Since you didn't have a roo up until the Rat showed up, she may have been the dominant bird. Rooster or no rooster there is always a dominant bird.

I am so sorry for you , your girls and him. (cuz now he's toast!)

Rancher

 

[speckledhen]

He needs to go, period. Darn, that is awful! No way he'd get a second chance.

 

[chickenGRAFFITI]

I am sorry for your loss. That is a terrible thing to have happen. Did she have any puncture wounds?
Does he have any spurs? If so I would try the Hot Potato method of removing them.
If it was me I would believe it to be an accident and see what I could do to keep him and minimize the risk to the hens.
That is just me as I love Roosters.

Best Wishes,
RNM