Mean Rooster or Sick Hen?

[SethRiddle]

I have a Rooster, who is normally a gentleman. Shows the girls where to get food, and is okay for the most part. But here's the thing, he's being very agressive to my favorite hen, to the point of ripping out and injuring her wing feathers. When I feed them in the morning, he chases her away from the food bowl. Whenever I see the flock free-ranging, she's now wandering alone like an outcast. I'm about ready to chop his head off after I saw the damage to my lady. She's the hen in my profile photo. I should also mention that she's the largest hen, a big Rhode Island Red. She isn't aggressive, or bossy, or trying to be second in command from what I can tell. She also doesn't appear to be ill from what I can tell. She seems absolutely healthy to me. There was another alpha hen who he never did this to, but she got eaten by a fox about a month ago.

The Rooster for all intents and purposes is meaningless to me. He's there for show, and for fertilizing a few eggs we incubated. I don't want to sound cruel, but I can't have him ripping up my favorite hen. Should he be dinner, OR... does he detect something about her is wrong, and he's trying to protect the other flock mates?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

In Raytown, Missouri,

-Seth

 

[gatorshark75]

I have a Rooster, who is normally a gentleman. Shows the girls where to get food, and is okay for the most part. But here's the thing, he's being very agressive to my favorite hen, to the point of ripping out and injuring her wing feathers. When I feed them in the morning, he chases her away from the food bowl. Whenever I see the flock free-ranging, she's now wandering alone like an outcast. I'm about ready to chop his head off after I saw the damage to my lady. She's the hen in my profile photo. I should also mention that she's the largest hen, a big Rhode Island Red. She isn't aggressive, or bossy, or trying to be second in command from what I can tell. She also doesn't appear to be ill from what I can tell. She seems absolutely healthy to me. There was another alpha hen who he never did this to, but she got eaten by a fox about a month ago.

The Rooster for all intents and purposes is meaningless to me. He's there for show, and for fertilizing a few eggs we incubated. I don't want to sound cruel, but I can't have him ripping up my favorite hen. Should he be dinner, OR... does he detect something about her is wrong, and he's trying to protect the other flock mates?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

In Raytown, Missouri,

-Seth

how old is the hen and has she been acting funny in any way also is she laying

 

[chrissy903]

My rooster sounds just like yours. He's a sweetheart but lately chases one of my sweet girls outta his way when eating. He only bites her. Normally he's not aggressive. Sometimes I just seperate them from each other There's always one chicken who is higher in the pecking order

 

[SethRiddle]

She's about a year and not acting funny in any way, shape, or form, except for being "kicked out of the flock" (by herself at times) by the rooster.

 

[gatorshark75]

She's about a year and not acting funny in any way, shape, or form, except for being "kicked out of the flock" (by herself at times) by the rooster.

thats kinda weird if theres nothing wrong the roo shouldn't be acting that way maybe you should cull him and get another roo