How Long to Separate Rooster For?

[hokankai]

I absolutely love my rooster. He's a big BO roo named Duke who has been doing a great job with his ladies. However, one of them is just starting to lose feathers on her back and is becoming cranky...probably from being mated with too often. I have one roo to 7 hens, but one has chicks so she is out of commission, and the other is a tiny bantam cochin. The "favorite" is the largest hen and probably holds his weight the easiest.

Anyway, I'd like to give the girls a break and want to know how long I should keep him separated for? Should he be separated but kept in the coop/run or should I keep him away from the coop altogether?

 

[sumi]

I think it would be better to separate him away from the hens, so he can't see them. He'll go crazy trying to get to them otherwise. Don't separate him too long though. Chickens are social creatures and he'll get lonely by himself. I'd personally remove the roo in the mornings and put him back with the hens in the evenings, so he can sleep (as in shut eye sleep) and spent a bit of time with them, but give them a break during the day.

 

[donrae]

I think it would be better to separate him away from the hens, so he can't see them. He'll go crazy trying to get to them otherwise. Don't separate him too long though. Chickens are social creatures and he'll get lonely by himself. I'd personally remove the roo in the mornings and put him back with the hens in the evenings, so he can sleep (as in shut eye sleep) and spent a bit of time with them, but give them a break during the day.

The problem with this is, unless you get out there at literally the crack of dawn, before the birds get off the roost, he's going to be mating the hens, that one in particular. Usually repeatedly, especially if he's being "deprived" during the day.

Any chance of getting more hens to spread the love? I mean, pulling him out for a few weeks is an okay short term solution, but is that going to be doable for you for the next 4 years?

As far as letting him still interact through a fence, that's going to be up to you. Your set-up, what area you have available, etc. And how your particular roo handles the seperation.

 

[hokankai]

He will have more hens eventually as one of the hens has 7 chicks and 3 are for sure girls. Maybe I'll just get an apron for her for now until those chicks grow up. His nails aren't long or sharp and he doesn't have spurs thank goodness. He's just big and heavy and I think that's the main problem. He's not overly aggressive and doesn't mate constantly, it's just that she gets the better of it :|