Rooster issues

[Spunky1]

My eight month old Orpington rooster is becoming a problem for my six year old Orpington hen. He seems to have chosen her as his hen. They spend most of the day together very happily but first thing in the mornings and the evenings he mates with her several times. The problem for her is he's absolutely enormous, much bigger than her, and she's getting hurt. She screams and struggles and tries to get away but at her age just isn't able to. Once it's finished she just lies in a heap, head on the ground eyes closed, looking so miserable.
I don't think this is fair on her and if I have to find him another home I will but I'd really like to keep him. He hatched with me and I've handled him and spent time with him since his first day and have become very attached to him. Apart from this problem he's a very sweet and gentle rooster, still climbing onto my lap for a cuddle sometimes.
Is there any way of training him to leave her alone? Difficult for him when she chooses to spend most of the rest of the day with him!

 

[TheYLWFlock]

You could put a hen saddle on her... it might make it less painful for the sweet dear.

 

[chickendreams24]

At 8 months he isn't mature and probably not very coordinated. You could try separating him for a while within sight of the girls. How many hens and pullets do you have?

Has he clipped the feathers on the back of her head or neck? And are her shoulders or back bald?

 

[chickendreams24]

Also to clarify as he isn't mature he is considered a cockeral for the first year and even sometimes at a year old (if their first sexually mature spring is at the one year mark) especially in the spring their hormones just sky rocket.

 

[chickens really]

Don't worry about it..She is just being a drama queen. If she didn't like him she would avoid him like the plague..

 

[Spunky1]

You could put a hen saddle on her... it might make it less painful for the sweet dear.

Might have to. But I'm also worried his weight might be hurting her back.

 

[chickens really]

I have a Huge Brahma Rooster that breeds my Silkie cross Hen and she is fine..He isn't hurting the Hen or Pullet.

 

[Spunky1]

At 8 months he isn't mature and probably not very coordinated. You could try separating him for a while within sight of the girls. How many hens and pullets do you have?

Has he clipped the feathers on the back of her head or neck? And are her shoulders or back bald?

I have four hens. I don't want to let it get to the stage that she's bald anywhere. He's bitten through her comb a few times.

 

[aart]

Don't worry about it..She is just being a drama queen. If she didn't like him she would avoid him like the plague..

Cracked me up!

I have four hens. I don't want to let it get to the stage that she's bald anywhere. He's bitten through her comb a few times.

You'll have to choose.
Do you need a cockerel?
I know, I know, you're attached,
but you may have to choose between the boy and the girls comfort
Does he mate the other 3 birds with the same roughness?
I'm betting the others are submitting,
and the older hen is not and so is struggling instead.

 

[chickens really]

Cracked me up!


You'll have to choose.
Do you need a cockerel?
I know, I know, you're attached,
but you may have to choose between the boy and the girls comfort
Does he mate the other 3 birds with the same roughness?
I'm betting the others are submitting,
and the older hen is not and so is struggling instead.

Bahahaha.......Glad you got a chuckle...