Hen killed by over topping...

[Kadjain]

This morning I went out and find one of my favs dead. Her back was always pretty bare from rooster topping but this morning I found two huge gashes on each side of her back exactly where the roosters spurs would go. Each gash was about 2 inches long and open very wide. I'm guessing she died from shock. I'm pretty bummed and from now on if I see a hen who's back is getting bare from being topped too much I'm going to separate her till she looks better.

Has this happened to many other people?

 

[1muttsfan]

You might consider keeping your roo's nails trimmed, and you can also remove the spurs if nescessary - although a lot of the damage is done by sharp nails. Trim them the same way you would a dog.

 

[Smoochie]

Yeah I would remove the spurs. How many girls does he have? If I have a rooster who is rough with the ladies I send him packing.... If he is really rough and makes them bleed I would take care of him myself right then and there.

 

[Kadjain]

He is a nice rooster for the most part. He has around 50 hens. I have some younger roo's too but he is the only one with spurs now.

 

[Smoochie]

Wow with fifty hens you have some with bare backs. He must not be impressing many ladies.. .

 

[Kadjain]

He's a busy guy. The hen was one of his favs too and she was probably the biggest hen I had, Austro/B. Brahma cross. She laid the biggest egg too, hers are the second darkest ones in my basket avatar.

 

[Smoochie]

He's nice looking! I use to not be very picky about my roosters as long as they respected me... until I had Jojo. Jojo let his girls eat first, he finds treats for them, he dances for them and is never aggressive towards a single one. Very gentle when he mates and ALL the girls love him... Including me .

Now when I shop for roosters or raise cockerels I am extremely picky. I look for one that works for me AND my hens.

 

[Pele]

He's nice looking! I use to not be very picky about my roosters as long as they respected me... until I had Jojo. Jojo let his girls eat first, he finds treats for them, he dances for them and is never aggressive towards a single one. Very gentle when he mates and ALL the girls love him... Including me

.
Now when I shop for roosters or raise cockerels I am extremely picky. I look for one that works for me AND my hens.

Ditto. Roos who abuse hens are next to useless, imo, since the entire point I keep chickens is for the eggs. Kill the egg-makers or sicken them and impact production, and you get booted from the flock.

Plus, those girls work so hard for me. The least I can do is provide them with a gentleman.