Overbreeding Related Damage

[RoostyRoo]

Hi there

We ended up with 4 roosters and 26 hens. Terrible ratio. We were able to get more hens to make a much better hen:rooster ratio, but they won’t be out of quarantine for a bit. While we were looking for more hens, the roosters started overbreeding our flock pretty bad. We put vests on them as a temporary solution, but the vests seem to have ripped the feathers off of part of their wings.

We’ll hopefully be able to release our new hens from quarantine in about two weeks and the breeding pressure will let up. In the meantime, does anyone have any recommendations? The first picture shows the damage done by the Roos and you can see the wing damage also. The second picture shows the wing damage with the vest on.

We really don’t want to kill any roosters especially since we just bought all these extra hens so we could keep them. I would so appreciate any advice!

 

[WishingStar]

Lock up some of the roosters. I would also watch to see if any one rooster is the main culprit for aggressive breeding.

If you haven't already, trim their spurs so they're less likely to seriously injure any of your hens. I just trim similar to dog nails and watch for the quick. Others have recommended Dremels or files.

I actually have a very similar ratio, but my birds spread out over 2 acres daily. If any of the roosters are too rough with the ladies, they get locked up for a week or so. If they continue, I turn them into dinner.

 

[RoostyRoo]

Lock up some of the roosters. I would also watch to see if any one rooster is the main culprit for aggressive breeding.

If you haven't already, trim their spurs so they're less likely to seriously injure any of your hens. I just trim similar to dog nails and watch for the quick. Others have recommended Dremels or files.

I actually have a very similar ratio, but my birds spread out over 2 acres daily. If any of the roosters are too rough with the ladies, they get locked up for a week or so. If they continue, I turn them into dinner.

We thought about locking them up temporarily as punishment when they are bad, but because we have four we were worried that might cause fighting to figure out the new pecking order when one is locked up. Thoughts?

We were thinking of trimming their spurs but I think part of it is they have super sharp nails too. Do you know if it’s safe to trim their nails?

 

[WishingStar]

Do you need all four roosters? And what age are they?

I have 3 for genetic diversity and the 4th I mostly kept because he's the most vigilant against aerial predators.

We thought about locking them up temporarily as punishment when they are bad, but because we have four we were worried that might cause fighting to figure out the new pecking order when one is locked up. Thoughts?

They'll always fight and squabble. Mine just rearranged the pecking order and the 3rd rooster bumped up to 2nd. As long as they can get away once they've been beat there shouldn't be any dramatic injuries.

I'd watch and see if any one rooster is the worst offender and start from there. Kennel each boy separately if possible because they likely won't tolerate being in such close quarters together. You'll have to shield them from any roosters left out because they likely will attack them relentlessly since the kenneled bird cannot run away properly to show defeat.

And if they do have a bloody fight, I've found the combs bleed like fingertips so it often looks more dramatic than it actually is.

We were thinking of trimming their spurs but I think part of it is they have super sharp nails too. Do you know if it’s safe to trim their nails?

I've never tried trimming nails, personally. I know someone had mentioned it on another thread or in an article. I'll see if I can find it.