Keep the rooster or get rid of him???

[pdirt]

 
Are you sure the flogging is not just him doing what roosters do? A good point made was perhaps the head hen is being difficult. He may not be the only one at fault here.

Good Point!!

When I first started with chickens I had previously had a bad experience with a mean rooster so I decided I didn't want one.. For two years I had hens, One of the hens, a BA was top flock master, even mounting some of the hens...  When we decided to increase our flock and got a rooster she not only would not allow him to mate her but would fight him off the other hens. It took him about 2 months for her to finally submit and had I known about all this then I may have very well gotten rid of her as she was obviously the problem..

I've not tried this myself, but have seen it recommended many times on BYC here...

When the lead hen is causing problems, quarantine her for a few days to a week. When you put her back in the flock she will be at the bottom of the pecking order.

I'm sure there are nuances to this method and it may not work with all birds, but might be worth a try if you still want to try to keep your rooster. (I'm speaking to the OP).

 

[AmericanMom]

I've not tried this myself, but have seen it recommended many times on BYC here...

When the lead hen is causing problems, quarantine her for a few days to a week. When you put her back in the flock she will be at the bottom of the pecking order.

I'm sure there are nuances to this method and it may not work with all birds, but might be worth a try if you still want to try to keep your rooster. (I'm speaking to the OP).

excellent point! before just getting rid of the hen this is what I would try first..

 

[Fowlinthehollow]

Okay, thank you! I will be having both the top hen and the rooster go on a little Christmas vacation. Hers will be round trip, he's only going to get a one way ticket.

Wish me luck!

And Merry Christmas to everyone

 

[Free Feather]

What do you mean?

 

[Fowlinthehollow]

I am going to put the head hen in another coop for a week and I will be getting rid of the rooster

 

[AmericanMom]

I am going to put the head hen in another coop for a week and I will be getting rid of the rooster

I'm not trying to tell you what to do because I am a firm believer in we all have different needs and expectations out of our flocks.

By re-reading the comments here it seems to me the problem is your hen and not so much the rooster, If you like him and want fertile eggs I would first just try and remove the hen, knock her down a couple rungs on the dominance ladder so to speak. By removing him if another hen doesn't take his place when you put her back within the flock she will most certainly take his place and may be worse than she is now.

Just my humble opinion.. Good luck whichever way you decide to go, I know it can be frustrating trying to figure out the flock dynamics.

 

[Richie]

I would keep the rooster. I find that hens are much happier with a rooster than they are without one. Roosters tend to keep everything in check and their sound is great. Things between him and the hens and pullets should come together and the flock with a rooster seems to be the way the chickens do best.

 

[pdirt]

Also, if you get rid of both the hen and roo and then bring just the hen back and peace is restored (though AmericanMom's warning sounds plausible, too), you'll never know if it was the hen or the rooster than was the biggest culprit. I would try removing just the hen first and see what happens. Unless you've decided you don't want a rooster anyways.

 

[Fowlinthehollow]

I could try taking the hen out and giving her some time alone, then bringing her back before I get rid of him. I do like him and I like whatever security he provides for my hens.

I actually have the 2 hens and the rooster that are the 'original' chickens. Should I take the other hen out at the same time (she would be in the tractor with the other hen) and reintroduce them both together to the flock?

 

[AmericanMom]

I could try taking the hen out and giving her some time alone, then bringing her back before I get rid of him. I do like him and I like whatever security he provides for my hens.

I actually have the 2 hens and the rooster that are the 'original' chickens. Should I take the other hen out at the same time (she would be in the tractor with the other hen) and reintroduce them both together to the flock?

If she isn't the problem then no, I wouldn't remove her