Randy roo, tired hens, separation anxiety

[sharondoright]

OK... I know, from reading through forums, no reason to hold onto a naughty rooster. My plymouth rock boy is only roo with 11 hens. They are so torn up, it's ridiculous. I finally caught him the other day actually standing on one hen and pecking at her head. JERK! He goes round with me every couple of weeks, but I chase him and kick at him (he is like karate kid) until he runs away from me and stays clear for a couple of weeks. I have just completed my giant covered chicken haven, and put the girls inside yesterday and excluded Mr. to use the remainder of ample open run and the old 4x8 coop. He seemed to settle down fairly well - but the girls just kept pecking at the hardware screen trying to get to him. I had to physically put each of them into the roost area last night. I let them all back together today as the hens are so stressed trying to get back with their abuser. Any suggestions? I don't want to dispose of him just yet - but after I get a brood or two of babes, he will be eliminated. Will girls hurt themselves (face/beak) by pecking at the wire? I can put a visual obstacle in front of the screen so they can't see him, can't peck the wire... or I could put a little shelter in run where they won't see him... I do hope to gentle him down - or give it a real try before he goes to the roost in the sky. Thanks for your valued input!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They are creatures of habit and you've upset their routine... "home" them to their new palace and give them a chance to settle. It'll come quickly and they will think "mr. who". Continue placing on roost or a few days. Yes a visual block might help.

I also won't keep a boy who stands on on peck the hens. Once weekly is plenty to maintain fertility for hatching in my experience.

Good luck!

 

[sharondoright]

They are creatures of habit and you've upset their routine... "home" them to their new palace and give them a chance to settle. It'll come quickly and they will think "mr. who". Continue placing on roost or a few days. Yes a visual block might help.

I also won't keep a boy who stands on on peck the hens. Once weekly is plenty to maintain fertility for hatching in my experience.

Good luck!

Thanks so much! I did put in some scrap plywood to block them pecking. Mr. Jerk pants was trying to peek over the new obstacle, but the ladies are now more relaxed. Thanks for the input. I will consider the weekly visits... maybe even do something to protect the girls while he performs for them. I don't want too many - but a dozen more would be comfortable in my space.

 

[aart]

I also won't keep a boy who stands on on peck the hens. Once weekly is plenty to maintain fertility for hatching in my experience.

Ditto Dat!
Might not want to reproduce him either.

 

[sharondoright]

Ditto Dat!
Might not want to reproduce him either.

Hmm... hadn’t considered that! Logic...breeders choose for disposition in other critters...

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since Aart brought it up, there is the question of nature versus nurture, are behaviors dependent on inheritance and genetics or on upbringing. In my opinion both contribute. I use behaviors in determining which chickens get to breed, not just the males but females as well. I don't know how old he is, whether he is a rooster or still a cockerel. If a cockerel, it is possible he will settle down as he matures but as far as I'm concerned his regularly going after you (and I assume others) would disqualify him as much as his tearing up the hens. I understand your desire to hatch more chicks though, I've been there. I did hatch more chicks but did not keep a replacement rooster from them, that was purely a hatch for meat. I bought more chicks and got a replacement rooster from the new chicks. There are trade-offs in everything we do.

It is very normal when I move chickens form one coop to another that they try to go back to the old coop to sleep. If they cannot get there they often get as close to the old coop as they can. After they settle down for the night and it is kind of dark and they are easier to catch I lock them in the new coop for the night. Sometimes I only have to do that once, sometimes it can take a week or more before they all catch on. Each group is different. I don't put them on the roosts, they can sort that out themselves. I put them on the new coop floor. But I try to be consistent in moving them in every night.

Don't interpret their desire to go back to the old coop as a strong long lasting desire for him. If you permanently remove him from their lives that will adapt pretty quickly. There will be some disruption, you are changing the flock dynamics. But you are not going to have to pipe in Dr. Phil or Oprah reruns to help them get over it emotionally, they will manage by themselves quite well, thank you.

I try to choose for the good of the flock, not one individual. From what you describe I think you and the rest of the flock will do fine without him.

Good luck with it.

 

[Sea Wolf]

There are nice roosters. Maybe get some roo chicks, let them grow up and keep one with a nice attitude. I had an Ameracauna roo that was like a tame dog. Maybe just a little retarded. Was always nice to the girls and was never aggressive to them or me. I would not breed an aggressive rooster.

 

[SueT]

As already suggested, you wouldn't want to pass on his aggressive traits to offspring. There are roosters available who have good temperaments. The girls will be better off without him.

 

[sharondoright]

Since Aart brought it up, there is the question of nature versus nurture, are behaviors dependent on inheritance and genetics or on upbringing. In my opinion both contribute. I use behaviors in determining which chickens get to breed, not just the males but females as well. I don't know how old he is, whether he is a rooster or still a cockerel. If a cockerel, it is possible he will settle down as he matures but as far as I'm concerned his regularly going after you (and I assume others) would disqualify him as much as his tearing up the hens. I understand your desire to hatch more chicks though, I've been there. I did hatch more chicks but did not keep a replacement rooster from them, that was purely a hatch for meat. I bought more chicks and got a replacement rooster from the new chicks. There are trade-offs in everything we do.

It is very normal when I move chickens form one coop to another that they try to go back to the old coop to sleep. If they cannot get there they often get as close to the old coop as they can. After they settle down for the night and it is kind of dark and they are easier to catch I lock them in the new coop for the night. Sometimes I only have to do that once, sometimes it can take a week or more before they all catch on. Each group is different. I don't put them on the roosts, they can sort that out themselves. I put them on the new coop floor. But I try to be consistent in moving them in every night.

Don't interpret their desire to go back to the old coop as a strong long lasting desire for him. If you permanently remove him from their lives that will adapt pretty quickly. There will be some disruption, you are changing the flock dynamics. But you are not going to have to pipe in Dr. Phil or Oprah reruns to help them get over it emotionally, they will manage by themselves quite well, thank you.

I try to choose for the good of the flock, not one individual. From what you describe I think you and the rest of the flock will do fine without him.

Good luck with it.

You are too funny. Glad there won’t be any therapy needed...at least for the hens. I might see about bringing a mature roo from another source... my roo is about 1 year old.