Hi! Just following the rules.

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Rafaelsmom

Rafaelsmom

Chirping
6 Years
Joined
May 28, 2013
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I'm new here, and relatively to having chickens. We rescued an abused/neglected hen a few years ago and it's been an adventure ever since. A rooster showed up within months from the neighborhood to live with us, stayed about a year then left for another neighbor who had more hens than we did. We then adopted a rooster from the pound, who, sadly, had a heart attack and died, We have since added another rooster and two more hens, one of whom had nine babies this spring. All was going well but our rooster is HUGE and two of my adult hens are going bald on the back, he seems to just be too big and rough. I'm kind of at a loss. We really love him.

I've learned a lot since we got our first girl, but I hope I can find some answers here as time goes on...

Great site!
 
You need at least 8 hens or he'll ride them to baldness if not death.
Either that or isolate him 5 days a week.
 
Greetings from Kansas, Rafaelsmom, and
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! Great to have you aboard! Had something similar happen with my hens and an overzealous rooster - finally had to remove him from the flock! Good luck to you!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan
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Hen saddles do work well to protect individual hens. You could also trim his toenails if they are long and sharp, do it just like you would a dog or cat.
 
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you need more hens and fewer roosters. If you don't want to rehome the extra roos but them in a bachelor coop, so they can't go after the hens.
 
The 2nd rooster was another rescue who has been adopted out. Just have the one rooster (That I know of at the moment) The hen saddles sound very interesting. I'll have to look that up. We had eight babies this spring so as they grow up I'll adopt out the roosters and get a more balanced flock, but in the meantime I'll look into the saddles, thanks.
 

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