Everyone now getting kicked off roost

[Abriana]

He’s 1.5 years old. I do hope to put him back with the girls eventually. I have to say it was a tough decision that I put off for too long. He tore up all the hens. Even once I got them saddles I would come home from work and find 1 saddle off at least once a week. He even lacerated the side of 1 of my hens and she had to go to the vet.

The hens are so much happier and relaxed without him constantly mounting them. Seriously, it was multiple times an hour! He’s only separated by chicken wire- thankfully he hasn’t figured out he could fly over it. He was salty the first week he was apart from them, but once I arranged it so he can always see the hens he was better. The coop, run, and fenced yard area are all set up so they are out “together” but can’t get together. I even got him the hormone implant as a last ditch effort to keep everyone together, but it wasn’t that successful. He’s too old to be caponized- which if I did have done, it would have been done by the vet. I did everything I could think of not to separate him, but after the hen’s laceration I felt I was out of options. He’s too aggressive to give away, and I can handle him pretty well. At some point I will do a detailed post dedicated to his story. Luckily for him he’s a pet, not dinner, and despite being my little pain in the butt, he lives a pretty good life.

Yeah I’ve had roosters like that. Luckily they were cockerels and I just gave them away but it sounds like you’re attached to this guy

 

[leighks]

Yeah I’ve had roosters like that. Luckily they were cockerels and I just gave them away but it sounds like you’re attached to this guy

What can I say, he’s a brat but I adore him anyways!

 

[leighks]

Update: less roost squabbles tonight. I did a cardboard barrier yesterday until it got dark, but today I wanted to see how they were without it- because it’s a new situation with the loss of head hen Daffodil just a few days ago and I do want the hens to eventually work it out. Daisy, the up and coming head hen, did peck at the other 2 tonight but they didn’t get run off the roost this time. Hopefully they are working out the new pecking order and adjusting to the change.