Newbie Rooster question

[JVAchickens]

Love this place and much thanks in advance for all the info!

So I have successfully raised 8 baby chicks into six month old hens, and added them to a flock of 5 laying hens. We kept 1 rooster from the flock of babies and he has grown into a handsome boy and is crowing like crazy: 50+ times a day. It is a great sound, the neighbors are fine with it, we live "way out" and have 3 + acres for them to free range on. He has taken quite a run at several hens and has taken almost all the feathers off of one. The birds that were raised with him all seem fine, it is the 5 "older" birds that he seems most interested in. Their heads bleed, their combs bleed and he has taken countless feathers out of most of the hens.

Question: Is this normal, will it curtail itself, am I being a wimp about the way nature works, is there a need for a Rooster?

I have no trouble "dispatching" him with a knife if this is indeed a problem bird, however it seems natural to have at least 1 boy around. As a novice chicken owner it 'seems' to me he is pretty unfamiliar with disclipine and so really goes at it when he is working a hen. He seems to go after 1 and then another, again with the harshest 'punishment' for the older birds not in his litter.

Thoughts?

 

[HugHess]

I am new here so won't even try to dispense advise that would be better left to the peops who know best. I just wanted to say that they make saddle garments a hen can wear to help protect her back feathers from sexually aggressive roosters. You can find them here and on eBay for starters.
I, with you, will look forward to seeing what information and anecdotes others post!
Take care,

 

[sourland]

He is a randy teenager trying to 'work things out'. He is after the older hens because they are sexually mature. He will eventually start on the pullets. He may settle down as he matures. You might try removing him from the flock for several months until all the hens are mature and he has matured somewhat.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

There are saddles and wing protectors you can use for the time being, but he sounds like a problem. A rooster is not needed in any way unless you want fertilized eggs. If you really want a rooster I'd try a new one. There's so many nice ones out there I can't see wasting time on a monster.

If there is visible blood you may have more problems on your hands in the near future. Chickens tend to be attracted to the blood and start pecking. For the girls sake I'd do some covering. Whether it's saddles, blukote, whatever you're comfortable with.

 

[JVAchickens]

Thanks so much, good advice.

We kept 1 Rooster because we are very much into, (and get more into) the whole "chicken thing" and having a rooster seemed like a normal progression. We have preditors as we live out in the country in the mountains of NC, but we also have a dog. We like the Rooster. We liked him a lot more before he started beating on everyone.

Please keep posting this is very helpful advice.

 

[JVAchickens]

Whats Blukote?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Sourland X2 I would separate him out until the younger birds are grown and mature. He can hurt them badly. Blu-kote is a spray you can buy at your feed store, usually it is in the horse section. It is an antibacterial, anti fungal medication that will help to prevent infection, but it also covers up skin on the birds. Chickens love to peck at raw bleeding skin. So if you apply blu-kote to areas that are raw and bleeding, the others won't bother the sores and it will prevent any infection. Don't put it on the combs however. They actually make a Scarlet color similar to Blu-kote you can use on combs.

This Blu-kote is bluish purple. Use a glove when spraying as it stains the hands, clothes and even feathers. You don't want to spray the birds eyes and such, so if this is in a area on the bird that this can happen, you might want to towel up the bird and apply the blu-kote with a q-tip. I like to spray the stuff into a ceramic bowl or plate and then dip the q-tip in and apply. Keep this stuff on the wound until it is healed.

Good luck with your flock and welcome to ours!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice and suggestions above, good luck with your roo.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I agree with the above posters.

Good luck!

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Your rooster problem is exactly why I don't keep roosters anymore (although in fairness, they are not all that bad). But roosters can be very hard on hens physically; over-breeding them, injuring them with their beaks and spurs, and battering them. I currently have 25 hens, no roosters, and I get loads of eggs without feeding any non-egg laying mouths, without the aggression, fights, crowing in the middle of the night, injuries, and over-bred and battered hens that frequently goes along with having roosters (especially too many). Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.