Roos' all year

[jtbuck]

I have my pens set up with 1 Roo with 15 Hens. Some of the girrs are getting featherless on backs due to Roo. I'm not incubating eggs yet(selling) so should I remove the guys and replace later??

 

[gritsar]

Some folks do, I don't. My flock is free range and believe me, a roo is good for alot of things besides fertilized eggs.
My roo finds good things for the girls to eat, he watches out for predators, he never goes to roost at night until all the girls are in the coop and he breaks up fights between fussy hens.
Do a search here on BYC for chicken saddles. Three of my girls are wearing them right now until we can trim my roo's spurs and his one toenail.

 

[jtbuck]

Thanks I didn't want to pull them. I guess when the girls catch up (Size)as they are all the same age , they should be able to handle these guys.

 

[gritsar]

You can use the saddles. Trimming the roo's spurs and the toenail on the toe that sticks out to the side can help.
I didn't want to trim my roo's spurs if I didn't have to, since they are there for protection, but he has two favorite girls and he is starting to tear their backs up. The third girl is wearing a saddle while she regrows feathers after her molt.