Poor Debra - violent cock

[Krystalkate]

My poor little golden comet chicken Debra who is 2 years old is getting roughed up from our 8 month old rex a saurus cock. They have lived alone together for 4 month. Whenever the deed is done it’s violent lol I mean I know it natural but her tail feather by her oil gland are almost gone and you can see the gland. I’m hoping this won’t cause issues to the gland if it continues. It’s slowly gotten its way to this and she did start out with all her feathers there and a yeast infection I had to deal with because she is just unhygienic bird that I have to give her butt soaks all the time.

Anyone else have only one chicken and one rooster and their poor chicken is roughed up from it?

 

[HenHouse4Life]

One rooster for only one hen spells disaster for her. Can you get more hens?... or rehome the rooster?

 

[Krystalkate]

One rooster for only one hen spells disaster for her. Can you get more hens?... or rehome the rooster?

I don’t really want to re home. Them I’ve read that you can have one and one..

 

[HenHouse4Life]

I've never known anyone to have only one hen to a one rooster ratio and have luck without the poor hen going thru heck. It's all up to you of course, but with her showing signs of overmating and being tormented I would step in and either A) separate B) get more hens C)rehome the rooster.
Good luck!

 

[leighks]

Your poor hen will continue to be torn apart. I have 5 hens to my roo and it’s not enough for him. He wore 3 of the hens bare on their backs and all 5 had wear on their shoulders. Finally his spur or claw cut one of my hens deep, requiring a vet visit and antibiotics. After that I did what I should have done a long time before that- separate them. Maybe when my roo is older he can be put back with them, or maybe I will get more hens. Learn from my mistake and don’t put your poor hen through the daily torture! The poster above offered 3 good solutions. Separation worked for me, my hens are MUCH happier.

 

[chuckachucka]

Many people keep a single hen and rooster but it depends on the temperament of the birds. Some roosters are gentler than others. If your hen is suffering from being mated there really is only two options, to get more hens or rehome the rooster (or the hen). You could try a hen apron/saddle if you are really reluctant to do either of these.

 

[sourland]

One hen/one rooster frequently amounts to abuse.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

im sorry, but 1 to 1 working is EXTREMELY RARE!!! seriously, wherever you read this. STOP reading from there..... 1 to 1 is the recipe for disaster.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

My suggestion is to get more hens if you don’t want to retome your cockerel. I would separate them in the meantime....

 

[Mrs. K]

Often times people do do a trio or a one on one, but it is only for a few days or maybe two weeks. They are wanting a specific breeding for sure. This way they can wait and then collect the eggs that they know were fertilized by this rooster.

It is not generally a year round, 365 days a year set up.

Mrs K