Rooster is mating with hens a little bit too much!

[adkhunter1590]

Add some more hens to your flock and this problem will go away. I’ve found that if there’s any less than 12 hens to one rooster they will get beat up pretty good from being mated too much. This winter was a long and hard one for us here in NY and my birds had to be cooped up until the snow melted. Even being locked in their coop and run for the last few months I saw no signs of over mating with the 12 to 1 ratio. Last winter we had 2 roosters with 18 hens and there was a bunch of naked backed hens. Once you get the ratio right you’ll see the flock being much happier, most likely get more eggs as well

 

[Ms Biddy]

I culled a guinea for "mating" very roughly with my hens. He targeted one in particular and she tried to run from him but he chased her relentlessly until he caught her. Then my rooster, feeling jealous took his turn. Then the guinea would go back after her again. The hen couldn't get away from them and ended up laying on the ground in a paralyzed state of shock. I walked up to her and she didn't move at all so I picked her up and comforted her and then released her far away from them. The guinea spotted her and started chasing her again. I know his hormones were running high, but that seems like rape to me. I was worried my terrorized hen would stop laying, plus it was ruining the whole vibe of my peaceful flock. We ate him, he was delicious, it's no longer a problem.

I agree about the hen saddles and getting a few more hens. Some roosters are also gentler than others and some become more gentlemanly with age. A little baldness isn't a big deal but if it bothers you and you can't expand your flock, maybe a rooster isn't really needed? They are very pretty, but not always necessary in a small laying flock.