Need hiding place ideas for elderly hens. Rooster too rough

[15littleladies]

My 14 month old rooster is so rough on a couple of my older hens. They are unable to run fast enough to avoid him.He is a large Speckled Sussex Roo. One of the smallest girls stays in the coop in the morning but he often comes back in and mounts her several times biting her head relentlessly. She can't get up for several minutes afterwards. I have saddles on the 2 older ones he picks on. Flock of 23 includes 1 roo, 16 hens and 6 chicks. Large coop, huge covered run and 1/2 acre electric fenced chicken yard. Any ideas on making hiding places for my elderly hens?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Anything you set up for the hens to hide in/under, the Rooster can get in too if he's that motivated (which they usually are.) Can you retire the older ones before serious injury forces the issue? Sounds like you have enough room to divide, put a divider in coop and run. If he can't get to the 2 he's beating up, he'll focus on the others. And in the event that he causes injury to them also, then I know what I'd do.....

 

[Mrs. K]

Pallets, roosts, mini walls all add ways to get away from other birds.

A lot of runs are just wide open rectangles where as every bird can see every other bird 100% of the time. Adding clutter can really help with flock management. Clutter makes use of the vertical space, and blocks the sight of birds.

Here is a post I wrote with pictures: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

But maybe the rooster needs a time out... in a crockpot?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Anything you set up for the hens to hide in/under, the Rooster can get in too if he's that motivated (which they usually are.) Can you retire the older ones before serious injury forces the issue? Sounds like you have enough room to divide, put a divider in coop and run. If he can't get to the 2 he's beating up, he'll focus on the others. And in the event that he causes injury to them also, then I know what I'd do.....

let me guess, soup time?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

let me guess, soup time?

Drive through processing.... Drop em off, pick em up a bit different looking In all seriousness though if it sounds like a good, young Rooster like this one I would try first to see if I can solve the problem. I don't just drop em off unless they really deserve to be gone.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

At 14 months old I would not keep a roo that is still being rough. I have one right around that age right now and he is nothing short of a gentleman with the ladies. If he does his little jig and she is not interested he moves on to the next hen. No matter what you put in there if a hen can find a hiding spot so will your rooster.

 

[15littleladies]

Pallets, roosts, mini walls all add ways to get away from other birds.

A lot of runs are just wide open rectangles where as every bird can see every other bird 100% of the time. Adding clutter can really help with flock management. Clutter makes use of the vertical space, and blocks the sight of birds.

Here is a post I wrote with pictures: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

But maybe the rooster needs a time out... in a crockpot?

Thank you for the visual ideas. I will be using some. I hate to separate these older ladies as it witnesses them And tge one he is hardest on sleeps on the roost beside him every night. She hasn't laid an egg for 2 years and occasionally crows so it surprises me that he mates her. She never challenges him.

 

[15littleladies]

At 14 months old I would not keep a roo that is still being rough. I have one right around that age right now and he is nothing short of a gentleman with the ladies. If he does his little jig and she is not interested he moves on to the next hen. No matter what you put in there if a hen can find a hiding spot so will your rooster.

I definitely want to keep him. He has proven himself as a protector of his flock. Diverted a huge dog that got into the yard when the gate was left open. He has very few tail feathers left but he kept the dog away from the hens until we intervened. I need to give him time to establish himself as the flock leader. He's not very human aggressive and getting better all the time. He may be a late bloomer as he didn't crow or mate until almost 8 months old.

 

[15littleladies]

distresses