Is it trouble to give my hens a break from the roo for a while?

[bethanyrae]

Does someone have some advice for me? I want to lock up my roo(s.)

I don't need hatching eggs this time of year, and I feel so badly for my hens and their beat up backs....the saddles just won't stay in place. They've got to be molting soon and growing back new feathers I would think. I'd like to give them a chance. I feel sad to see them perching up on things....I think it's to stay away from him.

Can I put my biggest, heaviest roo (Cuckoo Marans) in a separate pen for a while? I have another large fowl roo (EE) that gets chased around by him, but they don't fight. I'm thinking I might pen them both up. Separately or together?

Then what? For winter I don't have a setup for bachelor quarters....will it be a problem to put him/them back with the flock again?

I don't have to keep the EE fella.

I do have some smaller Bantam roos and hens around, but they tend to flock of a feather.

Any ideas would be much appreciated!
thanks,
bethanyrae

 

[sourland]

Definately give the hens a break. They will appreciate it. Try penning the two roosters together. If the pen is large enough with no hens present, they may maintain a truce. If push comes to shove, you can get rid of the EE. Once the hens have molted and regrown their feathers reintroduce the roosters. Testosterone levels drop in the winter so they/he may not be as rough on the hens.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I made the decision to give my roo away..The hens were bald, their feathers were broken and missing and they seemed to hide from him on a regular basis.. He was so aggressive toward my grandson. It was the best thing I have done for my coop... The hens look 100% better, they finally gained weight, they started laying more... they still have bald heads but I hope that they will grow back when they molt.. I would get rid of all them --or move them out until next spring..It could be something simple w/ different small pens---I have seen breeding pens that are just 3x4--plenty of room for a roo... OR you could just build a pen away from the girls.. throw in a couple of dog houses for each roo!