How hard is a rooster on its hens.

[Hambone]

I want a rooster but am worried he will be rough on my hens. I have 6 pullets. How many of you have a problem with your rooster being hard on your hens.

 

[chris2pa]

Our Rooster Heff can sometimes be hard on our hens.
He has no shame.. Some people I know separate their rooster from their hens then let the rooster in to help fertilize then put him back in their own coop.

 

[Bec]

I have one rooster that is VERY sweet. He has about 11 girls to himself but has his favorites, so their feathers were getting broken. I bought some saddles and those girls wear the saddles. My other roo has never harmed a feather on his girls back. He has 3 girls to himself.

 

[gritsar]

My rooster was hard on the hen's back feathers when he was young and inexperienced, but he's gotten better.
He has 13 hens and out of those, 4 are his favorites. He doesn't try anything with Chloe. I think she's kicked his butt a time or two.

 

[mylilchix]

I have a big blue cochin roo that had to be separated from my girls. He's just soooo big that he was pretty rough on them. He was a good protector too. He's in a pen next to our girls just because I love him.

Sonja

 

[willheveland]

A rooster can be pretty hard on his hens. Often if you don't want fertilized eggs,but want eggs a rooster may be not the best choice in your coop.They cause alot of stress that may actually slow your egg production.
But one thing for sure,they do keep the hens in line,keep them together while freeranging and will give their own life in a heartbeat to protect them. Depending on your situation those are your +'s and -"s.
My advise is if you do decide to keep a rooster is to make sure you enough hens for him 10+.
Sometimes they may seem cruel,but they really are a big part of their community system. good luck Will