HELP! Chickens in field!

[TomRussell]

Of course I'm not going to jeporadize their health and safety when I'm perfectly capable of taking him out. I've had them for about 2 years and I know when they are getting sick or need help, which is why I've started separating them all day long. They run into the field when I let them out, not when they find an escape route and try to run for their lives. They did end up coming back yesterday and they're exploring the yard today. For their sake I'm glad they did come back. I have alot of possums and quite a few raccoon. A fox or coyote too. Not to mention the 5 stray cats. You act as though I abuse them. I can assure you that is not at all the case. They get many treats throughout the day and I take special care to make sure they are very comfortable in the coop. I asked how I could keep them out of the field, I didn't ask what I should do about the roo. He's overmating them and you should be glad to know that I'm looking into getting about 4 more chickens. Thanks.

What is this field you speak of? Is it a separate property adjacent to your yard? If so, then you need to build a fence. If you already have a fence and they are still getting out into the field, then you need to build a taller fence.

Or maybe a chicken tractor.

 

[Vickischics]

Thank you! I was just going off what I knew and what I have heard on here, but it’s nice to hear some new information I can shove into my brain. I think, and don’t quote me on this, but roosters are more likely to over mate hens if he doesn’t have a lot of them. I’m not sure if the OP is running a breeding operation or not, I don’t think they said, but knowing if they are or not would be helpful. @AidKD care to answer that for me? ( or everyone, I don’t know if other people care or not)

The OP stated she had two Hens:1 Rooster.
Had the Hens for two years. No mention of the Roosters age or if it's a Cockerel or if they just Love the Roo ie; as a Pet.
The concern posted regarding help reported a few concerning things to most all of us regarding the initial posting.
1. Hen do not come out.
2. Not allow out.
3. Not the healthiest
4. Had to "Forced" to go out
5. Ran directly to the field
6. Wished they could explore the yard.
7. Ratio 1:2
8. Not willing to get rid of the Rooster.
9. Let them out 1/2 days
10. Can't find more chickens.

These are ALL signs of an "Abusive" Roo. Esp. Toward 2 Hens. Yes, he owns them, but, relating how the Hens maybe reacting to their situation vs to how female humans may feel is provided for the Human Owner so they may possibly better relate to the Hens situation and the request for help with the OPs problem.

Bottom line:
Keep the two Hens
Rid the Rooster
Add 8 additional Hens
Separate the Roo.
Easiest/Quickest fix is to Rid the Rooster.
No Roos in the Hen house.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

The OP stated she had two Hens:1 Rooster.
Had the Hens for two years. No mention of the Roosters age or if it's a Cockerel or if they just Love the Roo ie; as a Pet.
The concern posted regarding help reported a few concerning things to most all of us regarding the initial posting.
1. Hen do not come out.
2. Not allow out.
3. Not the healthiest
4. Had to "Forced" to go out
5. Ran directly to the field
6. Wished they could explore the yard.
7. Ratio 1:2
8. Not willing to get rid of the Rooster.
9. Let them out 1/2 days
10. Can't find more chickens.

These are ALL signs of an "Abusive" Roo. Esp. Toward 2 Hens. Yes, he owns them, but, relating how the Hens maybe reacting to their situation vs to how female humans may feel is provided for the Human Owner so they may possibly better relate to the Hens situation and the request for help with the OPs problem.

Bottom line:
Keep the two Hens
Rid the Rooster
Add 8 additional Hens
Separate the Roo.
Easiest/Quickest fix is to Rid the Rooster.
No Roos in the Hen house.

But, we ask questions. We find out more about the situation, because there are other possibilities besides an abusive roo. Predators, stress, all of those could be the answer. Jumping right to abusive roo is like seeing someone unconscious, and jumping to a heart attack. Sure it could be a heart attack, but there are other possibilities worth looking into before you draw the line. The OP’s problem is rather common, I dealt with it just earlier this summer, and it wasn’t an abusive roo. And even if it is an abusive roo, there are other solutions besides getting rid of him. You don’t rely only on the initial posting, you ask more questions to find out more about the situation. They could have a fox living in their yard, and getting rid of the roo wouldn’t help that at all.

Bottom line:
We need more details before we can confidently determine the problem and find a solution. If we jump to a conclusion, an innocent roo could be punished and the flock would lose a valuable tool.

 

[AidKD]

I don’t think, and hear me out, you should get rid of the rooster. If he isn’t being aggressive, then I’m not personally seeing any signs he is bad based off of what you have said. If he doesn’t have enough hens, he is going to act that way. And, you don’t have enough hens. Getting four more hens probably won’t be enough for him, but it might. Get more girls as quickly as you can, before the situation gets worse. Two hens and one rooster is a horrible ratio, and it’s bound to end up bad. I personally don’t think it’s the rooster’s fault. Of course he is the one being a jerk to the hens, but at the core I think he is just trying to protect them. He only has two girls, he won’t act the same as a happy rooster with a whole flock. But, I haven’t ever met him nor seen him, so I’m basing all this off what you have said.

I don’t think it’s right to call the rooster abusive, simply because he isn’t. Roosters “own” their hens. The hens are THEIR’S, in their eyes anyways. A good rooster does whatever they can do protect the girls, and have kids. Roosters do technically use, and abuse, hens sometimes ( non consensual sex, more non consensual sex, etc.), but in their eyes it isn’t abuse, it’s normal. Of course, it isn’t normal to us, but then again, we aren’t chickens. We are humans, so it’s not right to judge chickens based off what we think is right and wrong.

Have you seen any predators outside? He may have saw a fox, for example, and is scared to let his two girls outside in fears they will be killed. My cockerel acts the same way whenever he sees something he deems as a threat. He makes the girls go inside the coop, and blocks the entrance out with his body. Normally he just sees a squirrel, but I can see it happening with someone else with an actual threat. Have you lost any birds lately? If you have, he could also just be scared he will lose one, or both, of his hens.

TL;DR
Rooster good, but is acting bad. He needs more girls, and as soon as you can get some. 7-9 is the minimum number of girls per rooster, if you want them all to be happy. Roosters “own” the hens, they are his property in both his and the hen’s eyes. Don’t put human thoughts and feelings into an animal with a completely different social structure than ours. Check the field, yard, everywhere for any signs of predators.

- Me.

I had a skunk kill 1 of my girls last month. He is a very nice roo. He let's me pick him up and runs to the girls when he hears them squaking. After we caught the skunk and killed it we kept setting the trap up back of the coop. We caught 2 racoons, 1 possum and a cat. I never thought about it being a predator issue. There were signs that the skunk had been in the coop before he killed the hen, I just caught it to late. Thx for the info!

 

[AidKD]

Have you looked on Craigslist, there are tons of chickens. Are your chickens bantams or regular chickens, there are both on there including hatching eggs.

Craigslist. They're orpingtons.

 

[AidKD]

Thank you! I was just going off what I knew and what I have heard on here, but it’s nice to hear some new information I can shove into my brain. I think, and don’t quote me on this, but roosters are more likely to over mate hens if he doesn’t have a lot of them. I’m not sure if the OP is running a breeding operation or not, I don’t think they said, but knowing if they are or not would be helpful. @AidKD care to answer that for me? ( or everyone, I don’t know if other people care or not)

I'm not

 

[AidKD]

My Hens (not all of them) don't like to venture out much either but it has nothing to do with an abusive Rooster, wild life YES they are scared now after encounters with a fox and a bear at night that tore off their window. Everyone is fine. I'm hoping time will help them come around. I give them, (Chicken gatorade) That's what I call it, put in their water and it really help them cope with the stress. I wouldn't just kill my Rooster either, he protects them.

How do you make it?

 

[AidKD]

What is this field you speak of? Is it a separate property adjacent to your yard? If so, then you need to build a fence. If you already have a fence and they are still getting out into the field, then you need to build a taller fence.

Or maybe a chicken tractor.

It's just a bean field. The yards to big to put a fence around.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I had a skunk kill 1 of my girls last month. He is a very nice roo. He let's me pick him up and runs to the girls when he hears them squaking. After we caught the skunk and killed it we kept setting the trap up back of the coop. We caught 2 racoons, 1 possum and a cat. I never thought about it being a predator issue. There were signs that the skunk had been in the coop before he killed the hen, I just caught it to late. Thx for the info!

When did the issues start? I have a strong feeling this a predator issue, as that is a lot of animals that will eat a chicken you caught. Do you have a run or enclosure you can let your flock run around in? A predator proof enclosure is never a bad thing to have, and with that many predators free ranging seems very risky to me. Looks like you have a great rooster there, it sounds just like he is trying to protect his girls.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Craigslist. They're orpingtons.

I sometimes have that, but there are tons of regaler sized chickens.