Overmated Hens

[brownfarms]

Out of our last group of chickens we hatched ended up with 3 more roosters (4 total) for 16 hens. We are correcting this problem with 32 more chickens but it will be a while before they are ready to mate. Any suggestions on how I can discourage mating with the two favorite hens that have naked patches on their backs? Anyway to promote feather growth?

 

[arlee453]

You can make them a saddle either of fabric or duct tape. Do a search for 'saddle' or 'saddle and tape' and see what you can find. There are plenty of threads on here about making saddles.

Alternately you can make a batchelor pad for the excess roosters and keep them separated from the girls. If you have them where they can't see the girls - like on the other side of the building, etc - then often roosters can get along OK if there are no girls to fight over.

Good luck!

 

[brownfarms]

Oh dear! A chicken saddle? That sounds so wrong but just what I need. THANK YOU.

 

[flock-mama]

A batchelor pad sounds better than my Rooster Jail!

I have the same problem, too many roosters. I don't have it in my heart to get rid of them.

 

[brownfarms]

Yes, I like Bachelor Pad much better. Rooster Jail...poor things.

Sounds great at 4:30am though don't it. The Rooster Chorus......