Hello All!

Date sort Score sort
clfrannie

clfrannie

In the Brooder
Jul 11, 2016
13
0
30
Pee Dee area, South Carolina
Just joined. I bought what I was told was a breeding pair of Buff Orpington Buffs but am questioning the condition of the hen. Her back and wings and back of her head have been picked bare of feathers. She has not layed a single egg the whole time I have had her. Only two days though. I am planning on separating her from the rooster to get her back healed. Her vent area looks kinda poopy to me.

About 5 years ago, I had a pair of hens. So I have an extra chicken house in a storage building here. I am going to drag it out and make another enclosure for her somewhere in my back yard. Hopefully her poopy vent area will clear up with a better diet. I read on line that a rooster will not try to mount a hen that is not old enough to lay eggs. Would it be safe to put some younger pullets in the same enclosure with the rooster? Anyway, I like chickens but have only ever gotten little day old biddies from the feed store and then raised them.

I found your website while researching what to do with this hen.

The rooster is a beautiful boy. He seems large to me. He is supposed to be between 1.5 and 2 years old and was a 4H project. The hen is supposed to only about a year old.

Any helpful ideas would be appreciated.

Is it a good idea to put iodine on a chicken's injuries?

Thanks all

clfrannie
 
If they were kept penned together without other hens, then yes she will be overbred and that's why her head and back are bare of feathers... also, some hens have softer feathers and break/wear off easier than others when the rooster breeds them...

When chickens are moved it could take up to a month for them to resume laying, stress can stop their laying for a bit...

Yes, iodine can be used on wounds, colorless iodine is better as it doesn't stain or betadine is a great solution for poultry wounds...

Orpington roosters are big boys for sure... I would be reluctant to put such a large rooster in with immature pullets... some may leave them alone, but some roosters won't... plus, as soon as they get close to laying he will breed them, and like you said, that's a big boy...
 
I plan on getting back in touch with the woman who sold me the pair and find out more on how long they were together. I guess I can keep more pullets in the enclosure with the hen I already have. although I plan on keeping her by herself until her poopy vent problem clears up so that might not be for awhile. Thanks for the reply.
 
I do not think the rooster is trying to hurt the hen. He is a big fella and looks like he is trying to get balanced on the hen's back by gripping onto her back feathers and the feathers on her head. He probably does not realize his own strength. Oh well, two chicken coops with one chicken in each. I sorta wish I had just gotten more biddies. Thank you.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. @ravynfallen has given you some great advice. I agree that It may be better to keep your roo separate from the whole flock untiI your girls are mature.

Best wishes
Ct
 
Maybe you could find a smaller rooster for your flock. I don't think roosters care if they are too big or rough for some hens, if they bother to think at all. If you don't need fertile eggs for selling or hatching you could go rooster less. The hens will love you for it, if they ever have a thought other than eating. LOL
 
I wonder would it be better to divide a 10 x 20 foot enclosure into two adjoining 10 x 10 pens or get another 10 x 10 x 6 kennel and put it out of sight of the rooster? I don't want to drive the rooster crazy by keeping the hens within sight but out of touch on the other side of a chain link fence? Or am just over thinking this whole thing?
 
welcome-byc.gif


Hope you continue to have a wonderful time here! We're glad to have you join us!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom