Roos and mating question....

[Hoosiermomma]

Okay, I have 15 hens and almost all but 2 are missing feathers due to our single partridge rock roo mounting them. Geez he's such a barbarian. Anyway my question is, do all roos do this? I have blue and black bantam cochins and my roos (which are only 4 mos) are trying to do the same thing to the cochin hens. Will they lose their feathers too on their backs like the other ones have? If so then I will have to do something b/c I couldn't bear to see my cochin girls featherless.

I was seriously considering buying or making some of those chicken saddle type things to put on their backs so my other hen's feathers can grow back. We don't have an incubator nor do any of the hens sit so the roos purpose at this point is just as a protector.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Sounds like you have a very lively and active rooster. If he has spurs I would clip them and probably invest in some saddles too.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the previous post. You need some saddles for your girls.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Do cochin roos act so barbaric too with their hens? Some of my young roos are already trying to mount the hens but so far no feathers coming off. I just don't want my lil cochin girls to lose any.

 

[sussexgal]

Cochins seem to be elegant, stately birds..... time will tell if your roo is rough with his girls. Every roo is different and some are quite gentle with their ladies... hen to rooster ratio will make a difference too.... 15 hens to 1 roo and 13 are bare back? That's one active roo.... !! As said by others here, consider saddles for your hens.

 

[cybercat]

Are they penned or free ranging? If penned they might need to be seprated for a bit. Sounds like he is over doing it a bit from bordom maybe or if he is young need to grow up a bit.