My rooster and my poor hens

[olliek]

Hi everyone.

After losing our last rooster ( a black cochin and the biggest sweetheart rooster ever) defending his hens against a hawk we got ourselves a new one plus a couple of new chicks (all as chicks). The new one is now just over a year old. there are 8 hens with him in the coop. He seems to "prefer" a couple of hens that he constantly jumps that now look horrible and harassed (bare backs).
Any advice? - preferably I want to keep the rooster as we are planning to let broody hens hatch every now and then (just got three chicks a couple of days ago!). Do they calm down as they get older. I have one Aurocana in particular that barely leaves the coop anymore, just to be left alone.

Thank all!

 

[Gray Farms]

They do typically mellow out with age. You may need to get some aprons for the girls. Or separate him and just let him breed for a day the separate again.

 

[Evelyn Walker]

So sorry you lost your roo! For the hens' backs, how many do you have? Typically roosters will overbreed "favorite" hens anyway, but having about 6 - 10 per rooster can help. Also, you can make or buy chicken "saddles" to go on your hens to prevent back damage. Like this:

(not my photo)

 

[Henry&Friends]

You could get saddles, as others have mentioned, or you could trim his spurs so they’re not hurting the hens.

 

[olliek]

I like the saddle idea. he has eight hens. three of them look horrible right now. one the worst. one hen just hatched three chicks and another one still hatching four. so numbers will increase eventually but it seems these three are his favorites. or not smart enough to escape like the others.

 

[Gray Farms]

You could get saddles, as others have mentioned, or you could trim his spurs so they’re not hurting the hens.

Its not the spurs but the toenails that tear up hens.

 

[aart]

Its not the spurs but the toenails that tear up hens.

True Dat^^^^...plus some birds just have more brittle feathers taht break more easily.

Probably bothers the keepers more than the bare backed birds....as long as there is no blood ,I wouldn't worry about it.