Prevent mating??

[Mdavchicks]

Hi all! I’m looking for advice regarding my Rooster/Hen situation. I have a 3 year old buff Orpington hen, Honey (see picture for her model pose ). She has some pretty severe arthritis that she is being treated for. She is our roosters absolute favorite, probably because she can’t run away. We brought her inside and after 4 days of meds and rest she has improved but she will never be able to walk/run like a normal chicken. We have now had her inside for a week, and while we love having her inside, it’s not suitable long term. I’m hoping there is a solution where I can have her back out with the rest of the flock and our rooster, Clover. Is there something I can put on her to keep him from mating with her? Has anyone tried attaching anything to a hen saddle? Any tips or advice are much appreciated!

 

[sourland]

A hen saddle will not prevent mating. The only solution is separation from the rooster.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A hen saddle will not prevent mating. The only solution is separation from the rooster.

Sourland is right. Even if you could somehow block her vent to prevent brreding (which you can't), you cannot keep the rooster off her, which is how he's hurting her. Her bones just won't support him.

 

[ChicNmom]

Could you give her a little area of her own where she can see the others? Possibly locking him up occasionally so she can have some social time?

Maybe something like this could help?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-hobble.1308339/

 

[Mdavchicks]

Could you give her a little area of her own where she can see the others? Possibly locking him up occasionally so she can have some social time?

Maybe something like this could help?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-hobble.1308339/

This is so smart!! Great idea, thank you!!!

 

[Mdavchicks]

Sourland is right. Even if you could somehow block her vent to prevent brreding (which you can't), you cannot keep the rooster off her, which is how he's hurting her. Her bones just won't support him.

@sourland @BigBlueHen53 Do you think attaching something like this to a hen saddle would work?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you think attaching something like this to a hen saddle would work?

It would probably upset her and the rest of the flock initially, and maybe get her picked on by the others once they got over it because it would make her look different. If she's already struggling to get around I don't think she really needs a parade float on her back either.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I had an old BO hen who was in kind of the same position. She didn't have arthritis as far as I know but she was old and the rooster liked her because she didn't move a lot. She loved to sit, so I gave her a little cage inside the coop for just her. She was very happy with it and didn't really want to go anywhere (very old little lady). She got time outside when I took her out myself and treats in her cage that made the rest of the flock very jealous (which she also enjoyed). She liked being with the flock without the danger of any of them getting to her.

 

[Mrs. K]

And when you have pulled her from the flock for a week, the flock is going to regard her as a stranger. They might be pretty rough with her, as they have things all figured out with her gone.

I can understand wanting her back out there, I would not want one in the house, but I think too, her own space would be best.

Mrs K