rooster is getting rough with the hens...

[hipeatall]

A couple of weeks ago I put my usually sweet and docile White Faverolles rooster in an 8x12 "breeding pen" with a trio of hens. Previously they were in with my layer flock and had a much larger yard. They are all just under a year old and have been together and gotten along swimmingly since they were wee chicks. But, today I noticed that all three of the hens have feathers missing on the tops of their heads and faces. One even has an irritated / swollen third eyelid which I treated with Terramycn. This rooster is usually a sweet boy... and is super sweet to me... so I'm pretty surprised by this. I don't want him beating my sweet little hens up... they look battered

... Any suggestions on what can I do?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Keep him in seperate quarters and only allow him in once a week for breeding and then back out he goes. Maybe he's just too much roo for them?

 

[mrbstephens]

The ratio is wrong. I believe it should be something like 8 hens to 1 rooster. The hens are just getting too much, um, attention. Right now I have 5 hens to 1 rooster and two of the hens are almost totally bald on their head and are loosing saddle feather too. Unfortunately, roosters just aren't gentle creature. I'm sorry I don't have a solution for you, but I'm thinking your rooster has mated with the hens and maybe you can take him out of there?

 

[hipeatall]

Yes, I think he is most definately too much roo! I will put them all back out in the big yard with the rest of the flock tomorrow, they were all doing fine before I moved them into the separate pen. I will keep a close eye on them and see how it goes. The ratio will be 15 to 1 and he will be surrounded by my older hens so maybe they can teach him some manners. If he continues I have a rabbit hutch that could be his bachelor pad...

 

[hipeatall]

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This is a great idea... I will give it a try!

 

[hipeatall]

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do you have them in a breeding pen? I'm wondering if I'm gonna need bigger accommodations... I was thinking 8x12 was pretty big for the 4 of them... but, maybe not... and if I'm gonna do 9... I'm thinking I need something alot bigger... hmmm....