Over libido crazed Rooster

[Willatwork]

We have a year old Rooster and 15 adult chickens. Our Rooster must be mating at least a couple times a day to the point we've had to place aprons on some of the girls. Our gang has a very large backyard but I'm about to begin free ranging half the girls full time. I'm worried that the girls in the yard with our Rooster will be taking up the slack. Is there anyway to reduce Han's (Rooster) libido?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

We have a year old Rooster and 15 adult chickens. Our Rooster must be mating at least a couple times a day to the point we've had to place aprons on some of the girls. Our gang has a very large backyard but I'm about to begin free ranging half the girls full time. I'm worried that the girls in the yard with our Rooster will be taking up the slack. Is there anyway to reduce Han's (Rooster) libido?

Not that I know of, maybe someone else has an idea though I have a few suggestions... Can you allow your rooster to free range with the hens? Can you get more hens for your rooster? Some roosters calm down by around 2 years old and some just need at least 10-15 hens and some just have favourites that they like to mate constantly... If you can rotate hens that he's in with maybe that will give some a break from mating to recover? Or if you take his favourite hens out then see how he goes with the others? .. I have a rooster that costantly would mate one favourite hen every few minutes!! Poor hen! He is seperated with other hens. She is very happy about that I think!

 

[adstowe]

You can try free ranging him and see if that takes some of the pressure off, but being he's 1 and it's spring time this is common. Your best bet is to pen him up separately until he calms down. I would try reintroducing him in the fall.

 

[aart]

We have a year old Rooster and 15 adult chickens. Our Rooster must be mating at least a couple times a day to the point we've had to place aprons on some of the girls. Our gang has a very large backyard but I'm about to begin free ranging half the girls full time. I'm worried that the girls in the yard with our Rooster will be taking up the slack. Is there anyway to reduce Han's (Rooster) libido?

Are all your birds the same age?
Why would you only free range half the girls?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Willatwork
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Willatwork]

Hi aart, Yes, I will add my location but it's on the east coast of Virginia. Why would I free range half my girls? We want the free Rangers to clean up the ticks, bugs, small snakes, mice and other crawly things around our home. We have several acres and live deep in the woods. I have fenced in an large portion of yard behind our house so that the chickens have lots of Room. Because of the foxes and Coyotes I have a 6' fence setting on top of a 3' fence laid down. This keeps Foxes and coyotes out. I have strung hundreds of yards of bird scare tape across the backyard to keep the hawks and eagles out along with our GS/Border Collie that keeps an eye out as well. I've got half my girls picked out that will be free ranging while the others and rooster stay in the backyard. The ones in the backyard have a much better chance of survival than the ones free ranging.