Hen needs a break from rooster

[farmert]

Have only two hens/one rooster. Rooster seems to go after my Buff Orp and she is not feeling great. I see her skin and after he mounts and stands on her!! she stays down and acts like she is trying to recover from that. I hate it.

Should I isolate from the other two for awhile so she can grow back feathers and get a break from his actions? If so, how long -- until she gets a full feather look back?

I've been looking everyday for young pullets but they are in short supply.

 

[Eggcessive]

Post any pictures of your hen. Are there any red wounds? I would separate the rooster from the hens. Give them both a break. It would be good to get more hens especially if he is younger. 10 hens per rooster is a good number, but I would make sure to get healthy ones and quarantine them for at least 30 days. Or raise some hatchery or feed store baby chicks, where you will have less of a chance of bringing in a disease.

 

[farmert]

Thanks. I have been looking for pullets since November with no luck. I do not have a way to hatch my own so I keep looking.

 

[farmert]

No wounds or blood but I see skin.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is he considerably bigger than her? The fact that she doesn't get up immediately, fluff up her feathers and go about her business has me concerned that he is too heavy for her. Do you know how to check her weight by feeling of her breastbone/ keelbone? She should feel well rounded, padded if you will. If she feels sharp-keeled, she's underweight and there's a problem. If that's the case, she needs a break from him one way or another until she puts some weight on and gets stronger and better conditioned.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You can buy chicks from a hatchery or feed store and grow them out.

 

[farmert]

Is he considerably bigger than her? The fact that she doesn't get up immediately, fluff up her feathers and go about her business has me concerned that he is too heavy for her. Do you know how to check her weight by feeling of her breastbone/ keelbone? She should feel well rounded, padded if you will. If she feels sharp-keeled, she's underweight and there's a problem. If that's the case, she needs a break from him one way or another until she puts some weight on and gets stronger and better conditioned.

Yes, he is a big boy. She is a Buff Orp who is beautiful with all her fluffy feathers but not now. They have a big run so I will keep her in it. She already hangs back from the other two at roost time. Is there anything special to feed her or a supplement? Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Poultry NutriDrench 2 ml orally daily or other poultry vitamins can be helpful for about 3 days. The best thing for her is her chicken feed and clean water. I add a bit of water into a small amount of chicken feed as well for more interest. A small amount of cooked egg is good too.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yeah, just make sure she gets her fair time at the dinner table.

ETA: and what @Eggcessive said.

 

[farmert]

Poultry NutriDrench 2 ml orally daily or other poultry vitamins can be helpful for about 3 days. The best thing for her is her chicken feed and clean water. I add a bit of water into a small amount of chicken feed as well for more interest. A small amount of cooked egg is good too.

We've had chickens for years on our farm. They get high quality feed and nutritious treats every morning. They free range in afternoon when one of us is here. But, having only two hens is something we have never had to deal with before.