Yabadabadoo
Songster
We have 16 pullets and one cockerel. They are between 4.5-3 months old. We only bought sexed pullets, but our one roo is an accidental rooster. Our birds free range on half an acre in a suburban area. We have lots of mature tree cover, an 8’x8’ coop with attached 12’x24’ run (we open the door to let them out, but that way we have a secure space for them if we choose to leave them in).
We didn’t intend to have a rooster, just kept him because he ended up being a he. We have no intention to breed, no desire for fertilized eggs.
So in the past two days my rooster has discovered sex. And watching him for half an hour, he either successfully or tried to mount five of our hens (successful with at least one). Then also, one of my pullets is now limping, another has had one of the points on her comb ripped off (replaced by a small scab), and while no one is showing bald spots there are feathers galore. Although I didn’t see these two girls get injured, I am pretty sure it is our teenaged roo.
So here is the question. Will it get better quickly? We do have hawks, but I consider our predation risk low as there are people around much of the time and lots of hiding spaces. My prior mature flock of four free ranged for years, and while they were occasionally stalked and stressed, we haven’t lost anyone in the past.
I am a little “ick” about fertilized eggs in the phoenix heat. I also have a little one and a few teens so I am trepidatious about our rooster becoming more defensive/aggressive. Then finally, I am not keen on dealing with a bunch of injuries from constant mating...
Does it typically get better quickly? Should I keep the roo for a while longer or cut bait?
(We already hand feed and socialize with our birds so while none of them are snuggly, they know us and come near.)
Thanks for sharing your opinions.
We didn’t intend to have a rooster, just kept him because he ended up being a he. We have no intention to breed, no desire for fertilized eggs.
So in the past two days my rooster has discovered sex. And watching him for half an hour, he either successfully or tried to mount five of our hens (successful with at least one). Then also, one of my pullets is now limping, another has had one of the points on her comb ripped off (replaced by a small scab), and while no one is showing bald spots there are feathers galore. Although I didn’t see these two girls get injured, I am pretty sure it is our teenaged roo.
So here is the question. Will it get better quickly? We do have hawks, but I consider our predation risk low as there are people around much of the time and lots of hiding spaces. My prior mature flock of four free ranged for years, and while they were occasionally stalked and stressed, we haven’t lost anyone in the past.
I am a little “ick” about fertilized eggs in the phoenix heat. I also have a little one and a few teens so I am trepidatious about our rooster becoming more defensive/aggressive. Then finally, I am not keen on dealing with a bunch of injuries from constant mating...
Does it typically get better quickly? Should I keep the roo for a while longer or cut bait?
(We already hand feed and socialize with our birds so while none of them are snuggly, they know us and come near.)
Thanks for sharing your opinions.
