Rooster getting beat up!!

[leahcim823]

My hens (7 of them) are beating up my rooster. They pecked at his comb so bad, it was all bloody. I have them seperated right now, but I don't know what to do. I don't really want to rehome him. He's a great boy super sweet and takes care of them well

 

[Mrs. K]

how old is he? how old are they?

 

[leahcim823]

They are almost 9 months old, he's 8 months old...

 

[leahcim823]

They have been together since he was a month old. And there has never been a problem, well alittle bit of pecking. But now it's gotten really bad. I'm wondering if it's because it's winter and there bored?

 

[Mrs. K]

well that is odd...... that it is the rooster that is taking the beating.

A common problem for newbies, and if you are not a newbie, I apologize, but is that what was enough space for a younger, and therefore smaller sized birds is not enough space for mature full grown birds. Picking at each other is almost always a sign of not enough space or too many full grown birds.

Mrs K

 

[leahcim823]

Our coop is 8x12? Is that to small?

 

[Mrs. K]

No, I would think an 8 x 12 = 96 square feet, would be enough room for that many chickens. Do they have a run? Do you have pallets, or boxes, or different height roosts........

This is really an unusual problem, and out of my experience range..... sorry

Mrs K

 

[leahcim823]

We have a run but they won't go out in the snow, I made a roost out of 2x2s it I about 5ft long and 3ft tall with 3 rows on it, they also have a large like counter that they can go on.. And one more little roost.... I saw something about bored chickens....
I'm gunna make some thing so occupy them I saw some people Hung old CDs, stung up Cherrios, and put apple in wire baskets to keep the chickens busy......