Looking for ideas to separate rooster from hens but....

Some people tether their roosters, especially to keep two roosters who fight away from each other. It CAN be done humanely.

Here's a few threads about it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/putting-a-rooster-on-a-tie-lead.971732/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-it-okay-to-tie-my-roosters.330460/

Also this:
http://www.backyardpoultry.com/articles/tetheringpoultry.pdf
I've been considering tether for a while, look forward to reading your links. :thumbsup

10 ft x 30 ft is plenty for 6 chickens
How many hens do you have? 10 x 30 is a big enough run for only 3 chickens.
Although there are some good general rules of thumb... EVERY situation is unique... flock dynamics, weather, cleaning schedule and so on. Regardless of what people like to think we MUST have, if it works for us... then it's that simple. :old How many people say you can't keep roosters together that grew up apart? I've got a stag pen that says otherwise. ;) Or you can't keep Silkies with large fowl or let them free range? Been doing that for years also, without issue. Or ya gotta lock your broody's away from the rest of the flock? Not! Though I did just recently move my bantams to their own pen to eliminate the worry of an accidental injury due to mating a LF rooster. Even when the rooster isn't "aggressive" toward the hens, they can still be a bit sloppy or excited and still learning to balance. Chunks of comb come up missing and such... and I KNOW my boy is pretty well behaved or guaranteed he would NOT be welcome here at almost 2 years old. Saddle doesn't do anything to protect the head area... which is where my issue crops up first. I control over mating issues, by keeping my boys separate and allowing for conjugal visits on MY schedule.

Also note... NO amount of extra space or feeders will stop a chicken hell bent from going after another. Flare ups happen just as they do for anybody living together. I have PLENTY of space, and sometimes need to provide a "time out" for a relentless aggressor that got a feather stuck up their hiney. :smack If the time out doesn't correct the issue... it's off to freezer camp for a lesson they won't forget. :drool Still as humanely as possible of course!

I also want to note that an escape route may be less effective for a breeding age gal then it is for chicks. Reason being... it's not a simple peck and run away/chase. Very often the rooster has mounted before the hen can even realize it. So it will likely be over before she can even think to escape, most of the time. Or the other thing they chase until they get a hold of the neck feathers and then hold on tightly while getting in position to mount. Making it a look but don't touch set up... would totally work, in my EXPERIENCE. They still get to hang out through the fence but NO over mating or fear of injury. And depending on the age of your boy... they are SOOO much better once they've matured. Mine often mature to more than 1 year old before being allowed mating privileges. Huge difference between a horny teenager and young man that has gained some self control and had a chance to practice manners through the fence and had a chance for SOME of those raging hormones to settle down.

Good luck! :pop
 
A rooster will be driven to stay with his flock and can easily injure himself trying to get through a tight space. With the size space you have I see no need to try to restrict his movements, there is plenty of space for the hens to move away from him if they wish

Yeah...In this case I really don't think you need to separate him at all. I would only do so if there were problems.
 
You could get an saddle for her back, I personally think unless you had 3 hens and one rooster, the hens get mounted, they shake it off and get on with the day.
 
The issue is, one of the hens was injured. Her feathers were missing on her back and she had two deep gouges. She screams and runs from the Rooster but he doesn't even chase after her when I'm there but obviously he has been doing something. The polish chicken likes him and will sit beside him although I think he does peck them cause they will let out a howl and when I look I see nothing going on. I did buy a saddle and just received it today. Lots of great ideas, so thank you all for your help, I love this forum, so much knowledge and experience.
 
That is good, birds are funny, I had a duck that was trying to do the rooster's job with all the hens but one. The one hen he did not do the deed with, he would follow her around all day "blabbing". I also had a boy bunny who at a diff time was in love with that same hen. She was an austrolorp.

My husband calls my stories "chicken gossip" sometimes when he pretends to be interested in my chickens he will ask what the chicken drama of the day was. But his eyes to glaze up a bit during the telling.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom