Hens being harrassed too much? What should I look for?

[AmyRey]

So it came to my attention yesterday that my 4 girls may get *too much* lovin from our rooster.

I have seen him chase them around. They squawk a bit and run away. He gives up pretty quickly and goes back to eating and scratching.

So if they do get to the point where he's bothering them too much, what would the signs of that be? I figured they'd be missing feathers on their backs, but are there other things I should be looking for as well?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Missing feathers on the back or the back of the head. Wounds on the sides or back where his spurs have cut them, usually with missing feathers. With one roo and four hens, problems could develop, but it is not absolutely sure that they will. Depends some on his enthusiasm and some on his technique.

Some missing feathers are not a big deal. Bare spots are getting more serious. Wounds require immediate action.

There are solutions if you see any problems developing. Just let us know.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Great answer, Ridgerunner!