Rooster and hen Question

[Leatherworker]

I have 11 Pullets and one Rooster who is a month younger then my girls. They will be a year old the end of this month (feb. 2024) I brought the rooster in after the girls started laying. He is a attentive guy, friendly and not abusive with the hens. I have read Shadrack's article about understanding your rooster. It really helped me understand behavior so much better. I give treats to him first and things have been real good. Lately he has flew into me from behind a couple of times, didn't hurt me or anything and only done it twice. I hope that is not a spark of things to come. If I call them, he's the first to come running, wanting his treats. He used to get upset when they came and sat with me, now most of the time he comes and lays with them around me.

My issue is that my girls are having to wear saddles from his over working them it seems. He is bigger and has very large feet. I've got almost all of them in the saddles so they don't become injured. Their feathers are getting very scarce there in the back. I thought 11 would be enough for any guy.

Is he just young and full of hormones? and will this get better as he matures? I can't see the girls having to wear those saddles for a long time. He is frantic if I try and separate them. He wants to look after them and escorts them to lay and answers their calls. So he's doing his job. But he sure is active. Any advice?

 

[DLA]

I don't have any roosters now but in my experience with them in the past they can settle down some as they mature. Just keep using the saddles till he mellows out a bit, make sure you keep his nails and spurs trimmed to limit any injuries, you can also file or snip just the point off of the end of his beak if he's pecking too hard. I wouldn't tolerate that flying into you behavior, you should try to put him in his place if he does that again. He's testing his boundaries with you.

 

[azygous]

It's okay top restrict a rooster's access to the hens. It will not harm him, either physically or psychologically. It is not always a sure thing that having a large ratio of hens to rooster will prevent over mating since most roosters have favorites, usually little hussies that ask for more than their share of mating.

I highly recommend constructing a "jail" section in your run. It can be used for so many things, you'll really be happy to have it as time goes on. I have two roosters, and they get very limited access to the hens. My jail section has its own exit from the run, so my two boys can choose to free range or come in the the jail from outside and visit with the girls if they choose. The roosters and hens communicate through the mesh partition, but are only permitted to mingle briefly late in the day when they all get scratch grain together.

This limited access saves the hens backs, but it also saves the roosters from getting their delicate neck and saddle feathers from being plucked by some of the hens who are fixated on them.

As @DLA mentioned, you need to discourage your roo from coming up behind you and attacking. Some roosters are sneaky, and you must not turn your back on them. When he comes at you, stand up and walk right to him, driving him before you. Never get out of his way, make him move for you. For a young roo who hasn't learned manners yet, you need to teach him. He's testing you. Don't let these aggressive actions become habit.

 

[fluffycrow]

Some males are more zealous than others, and some females are more tolerant of this than others

Since you've read his article, why not tag the roosterist himself to help @Shadrach

 

[CoopBoots]

Big agreement on rooster jail. He won't like it but it will help you through the super hormonal phase and it certainly won't harm him. My cockerels have ALL done a stint in jail and I think the hens appreciate it, especially after seeing what damage overmating or excessively clumsy mating can do.

 

[Leatherworker]

It's okay top restrict a rooster's access to the hens. It will not harm him, either physically or psychologically. It is not always a sure thing that having a large ratio of hens to rooster will prevent over mating since most roosters have favorites, usually little hussies that ask for more than their share of mating.

I highly recommend constructing a "jail" section in your run. It can be used for so many things, you'll really be happy to have it as time goes on. I have two roosters, and they get very limited access to the hens. My jail section has its own exit from the run, so my two boys can choose to free range or come in the the jail from outside and visit with the girls if they choose. The roosters and hens communicate through the mesh partition, but are only permitted to mingle briefly late in the day when they all get scratch grain together.

This limited access saves the hens backs, but it also saves the roosters from getting their delicate neck and saddle feathers from being plucked by some of the hens who are fixated on them.

As @DLA mentioned, you need to discourage your roo from coming up behind you and attacking. Some roosters are sneaky, and you must not turn your back on them. When he comes at you, stand up and walk right to him, driving him before you. Never get out of his way, make him move for you. For a young roo who hasn't learned manners yet, you need to teach him. He's testing you. Don't let these aggressive actions become habit.

Thank you, good advice.

 

[Leatherworker]

Thank you for all the thoughts. I did put him in a fenced off section of one of the two runs which are hooked to each other. There is a bunny hut in there so he gets in there at night. He is unhappy, but the girls are relaxing. I had trouble getting the two he was chasing in at night because he was in there. So after about 5 days now, they go right in. If I have to find him a home, that may be best. I see how much more relaxed the girls are and some started laying again. He did protect them and keep them together, broke up fights, but the rest is not worth them in stress.