Rooster and Broody

[RosanneH]

My rooster attacks my broody every time she tries to leave the coop. I mean really tries to hurt her. What can we do or do we need to pack him off to a farm? We are small flock owners; 1 rooster and 5 hens.

 

[woodenfarm]

If it was me I would pack him off

 

[sourland]

To him because of her new broody behavior she is a 'stranger'. Flockmates will sometimes scuffle with a broody hen, but generally not a flat out beat down. Is there any way that you can separate her from the flock while she is setting ?

 

[aart]

How old is male?

 

[RosanneH]

How old is male?

Not a year yet.

 

[RosanneH]

To him because of her new broody behavior she is a 'stranger'. Flockmates will sometimes scuffle with a broody hen, but generally not a flat out beat down. Is there any way that you can separate her from the flock while she is setting ?

Not immediately. We could probably come up with something.

 

[sourland]

Not immediately. We could probably come up with something.

Or simply remove the rooster from the flock until chicks are hatched. If at that point he is aggressive to chicks and or hen he should be culled.

 

[MROO]

Can you put Papa in a dog kennel, where he can see and be seen but not get near Broody Mama? Or can you put the nest box inside a kennel and leave Mama in the coop with her soon-to-be family. If you do the latter, be sure to put hardware cloth around the border so the babies can't sneak out to where Mama can't protect them. I made that mistake a month ago and almost lost two new babies.

 

[kwhites634]

If it was me I would pack him off

Better yet, pack him in...a Mason jar

 

[RosanneH]

Thank you, everyone. He's a completely different rooster today so we're watching. We kicked him out of the coop last night and he was a sad puppy. Today he's mellow. If it happens again he's gone!