Rooster is too rough on hens.

[Fishsticks06]

Hello! I have eight chickens, one being a rooster. So being a rooster, he mates with them. That wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t tear their feathers out. This has been going on for 1-2 months. I can’t get the ones I need to put saddles on. I've tried spur trimming, and I’m not sure it worked. Some hens look perfect now after I did it, some are hardly/not healing. And one is just getting worse. I’m not up to removing the rooster or killing him, so I need suggestions on how I could help my birds. Thanks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm guessing they are under a year of age.
If they aren't free ranging, the rooster doesn't have to be with them all the time.
One thing you can do is put him in separate housing for 4 or 5 days a week.

 

[aart]

Hello! I have eight chickens, one being a rooster. So being a rooster, he mates with them. That wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t tear their feathers out. This has been going on for 1-2 months. I can’t get the ones I need to put saddles on. I've tried spur trimming, and I’m not sure it worked. Some hens look perfect now after I did it, some are hardly/not healing. And one is just getting worse. I’m not up to removing the rooster or killing him, so I need suggestions on how I could help my birds. Thanks.

Removing him for at least part of the day may be the only solution to protect your girls.
Tell us more....
How old are these birds, in weeks or months?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would be most helpful here.
Where are the feathers being 'torn out'?
Some birds have weak/brittle feathers.
Some cock/erels have terrible technique and/or demeanor and are incorrigible.

 

[Fishsticks06]

Why cant you get to the ones that need saddles?
If they go in a coop at night. That is the time (after dark) that its beast to handle birds.
Some roosters have poor "technique", other are just young and learning, and some are just unnessarily rough and will always be so.
Most roosters will have one or two favorites that will show more wear than the others.
Hope you figure this out.

My rooster is, well possessive, and my hens freak out. There’s only a select few I can handle. I’ll try to tonight and I’ll see how it goes.

 

[aart]

My coop is a 18 square feet

That's kinda tight.....but if they range most the time that can help a bit.
Pics of coop and run....and the girls feather loss might offer some clues for a solution.

 

[Fishsticks06]

 

[Fishsticks06]

is she molting and what does the dancing look like?

Not molting, some hens have gone through this as well.

that’s what his dance looks like.

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

yes that was dancing but I kept getting distracted by the guineas. Man i wished i could have those

 

[candlearo12]

Hello! I have eight chickens, one being a rooster. So being a rooster, he mates with them. That wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t tear their feathers out. This has been going on for 1-2 months. I can’t get the ones I need to put saddles on. I've tried spur trimming, and I’m not sure it worked. Some hens look perfect now after I did it, some are hardly/not healing. And one is just getting worse. I’m not up to removing the rooster or killing him, so I need suggestions on how I could help my birds. Thanks.

Can you isolate the girls that need healing. They might be killed by the others if they see sores or blood. I had a roo that caused my brahma to bleed by grabbing her head to mate. The rest were trying to kill her. I took her away and let her heal completely and the flock accepted her back when i slowly reintroduced her. You could also separate him from the flock for a few days . A time out might give the girls a break from the stress.

 

[candlearo12]

View attachment 2026268

That is typical. She isn't too bad. Just watch for any sores, scabs, etc ..that might draw curiosity and pecking.