Roo fixated on one hen

[yakitori]

I have a hen who is plucked bald and partially scalped. I’ve separated her so that she can still see the rest of the covey.

Whenever she’s separated, the Roo constantly wants to get to her through the wire partition. There are 9 other hens he could choose from, and while he does mount the other hens occasionally, he spends most of his time surfing the partition to his favorite female.

Yesterday I let her out since her head was almost healed and now she’s scalped again this morning, I’m not sure what to do

Screenshot is from my quail camera, then hen is preening, not headless! You can see the roo poking his head through trying to get to her.

 

[FamilyOfSeven]

For her back you could get a hen saddle, but I’m not sure about her head. You might have to get rid of the rooster.

 

[yakitori]

For her back you could get a hen saddle, but I’m not sure about her head. You might have to get rid of the rooster.

her back is fine, it’s just her head. I didn’t know they made saddles for quails!

I think she’s scalped because he plucked her bald, then started pecking her head because he no longer had any feathers to grab on to Maybe I can separate just the roo. The girls were doing well before I got him because I wanted babies

 

[Nabiki]

How long have you kept her separated for? Personally, I would replace the roo.

 

[yakitori]

How long have you kept her separated for? Personally, I would replace the roo.

Had her separated for a week. I let her back in yesterday since the scab was just peeling off and taking her out individually for a daily dust bath was a hassle. It was bleeding again this morning. I think the roo grabbed the scab and tugged.

I’ll ask around and see if anyone wants a roo, can’t bring myself to dispatch them

 

[Susan Skylark]

I had one of these obsessive roosters, five hens but he had his favorite, bald from scalp to tail. Anytime he got excited he’d be after the poor girl, I ended up moving her in with my month old chicks for a break, she’d actually run out the door the moment it was opened, right at you but away from him! He crowed for days (rarely crowed before separating them). I finally just tossed him in with some teenage boys I was going to cull, they got along fine?! Then I moved everybody to a large group pen, kept him around as a mascot, my son’s favorite, but ready to chop his head off if necessary. Apparently he retired from being a breeding bird (now a year old), he doesn’t chase girls (even the favorite) or crow, just gets a little cranky when somebody tries to steal his bathing spot! I haven’t a clue what happened!

 

[yakitori]

I had one of these obsessive roosters, five hens but he had his favorite, bald from scalp to tail. Anytime he got excited he’d be after the poor girl, I ended up moving her in with my month old chicks for a break, she’d actually run out the door the moment it was opened, right at you but away from him! He crowed for days (rarely crowed before separating them). I finally just tossed him in with some teenage boys I was going to cull, they got along fine?! Then I moved everybody to a large group pen, kept him around as a mascot, my son’s favorite, but ready to chop his head off if necessary. Apparently he retired from being a breeding bird (now a year old), he doesn’t chase girls (even the favorite) or crow, just gets a little cranky when somebody tries to steal his bathing spot! I haven’t a clue what happened!

Mine was apparently a virgin because his brother almost killed him so the previous owner had him by himself. That crowing thing is so weird. I ended up putting him in naughty jail, and he wouldn’t stop crowing his head off. I’m hatching more, hopefully will be able to switch him out for a nicer gentleroo

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

I had to cull one of my roo’s. It was like a light switch one morning. He started crowing non stop and beating up my hens. I was not going to put up with that. My only roo now is a big softy. He hardly ever messes with the hens and crows only in the morning. But I am keeping my eye on him as I’ve learned they can turn on a dime.

 

[Carterborchers]

I had to cull one of my roo’s. It was like a light switch one morning. He started crowing non stop and beating up my hens. I was not going to put up with that. My only roo now is a big softy. He hardly ever messes with the hens and crows only in the morning. But I am keeping my eye on him as I’ve learned they can turn on a dime.

I just learned this the hard way. A once-docile button roo scalped his hen on a dime, in the middle of the shoulders (?) too. She looks so bad. Not eating, not drinking, terrified of leaving her teepee hiding space even though she’s alone in there. I can’t place a rooster because there’s no feathers to grab on the neck, and only two hens that are paired happily with their man. I’m force-feeding with water and formula “superfood,” but not sure how much to give. I really hope she makes it.

 

[Nabiki]

I just learned this the hard way. A once-docile button roo scalped his hen on a dime, in the middle of the shoulders (?) too. She looks so bad. Not eating, not drinking, terrified of leaving her teepee hiding space even though she’s alone in there. I can’t place a rooster because there’s no feathers to grab on the neck, and only two hens that are paired happily with their man. I’m force-feeding with water and formula “superfood,” but not sure how much to give. I really hope she makes it.

She will recover based on the pic in your other thread. Don't force feed her, she might aspirate the food/water. You can hold her and put a bit on her beak and she'll take it or not. Her best chance of recovery is to make sure she's in a warm, dim, place for a day or so before worrying.