Rooster issues

[eaglerugby04]

I was wondering if somebody could give me advice on what to do. A freind gave me 6 chickens that are slightly over a year old, up untill the day they were given to us they actually thought they had 6 hens due to them getting about 5 eggs a day. All the chickens appeard to be getting allong until that point when feathers were missing on all but one. It was later determined that 2 of the chickens were roosters, with the alpha not getting pecked at at all.

Now a week later the Alpha Rooster is now missing feathers as well, and the hens are missing more, some of them even being on the wings.

I just got some of the Aluminum spray that is supposed to help heal wounds and taste bad, however the guy at the tractor supply seemed to think that it wouldn't work and the only option would be to kill one, if not both of the roosters. I feel kind of bad doing that. Does anybody have any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Where are the feathers missing? They could have lice / mites and they could be molting. They could be feather picking out of frustration, stress, too little space, too little protein -- at any rate, feather picking happens to and by both sexes.

Too little protein I think usually happens by accident: a lot of low protein table scraps, or a lot of scratch, can upset the balance of nutrition in regular feed. I'd start by looking at diet and checking / treating for lice / mites; it's that time of year. Sevin 5% garden dust works like a charm. Though 2 roos to 4 hens is a lot of roos....

http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8162.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/472405/lethargic-chickens-and-now-dead-help

 

[sourland]

Two roosters to 4 hens results in a lot of physical wearand tear on the hens. Removal of one or both of the roosters, proper balanced diet, enough space, and treatment for parasites (if present) should provide a solution to your problem.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Thank you for all your advice. I have checked the chickens and there appears to be no sign of mites or lice. One of the chickens looks like it has been abused more than the others. She appears to be skiddish, hanging out underneth the hanging food dish and running. I also noticed the less dominate male attacking that hen pretty seriously. Then he pecked her later.

As for food we are using the Layella food from Purina and not really feeding any table scraps. We through 2 ears of corn in there and that was about it.

Sounds like one of the best options is to eat on of the roosters. Since the non dominate one is causing the issues should it be him? I don't want to do this, but the consensus seems to be that no matter what I have to many. I have plans to add onto the run. This should further help this issue.

What do you guys think?

 

[naillikwj82]

If you have no intention of hatching chicks, you have no need of a rooster. Also if I had two little people as in your avatar, i would have no roosters.

 

[sourland]

I would eliminate at least the non dominant rooster, and then if problems persist get rid of the second rooster.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I would like to keep one to have the future option to raise chicks. I will agree though that the roosters do scare me around the kids since soon they will be walking and want to interact with the chickens.

It looks like it is time to snuff the rooster.... Hopefully the surviving rooster will adapt and calm down. He overall was friendly I can pick him up and he doesn't mind.

 

[Mrs. K]

I strongly strongly recommend that you wait to have roosters until your children are at least 5 years old. Roosters have a very small brain, the movement of small children is jerky, sudden, noisy and alarming to a rooster. Children can be scarred or blinded by an aggressive rooster, and often you do not have any warning that the rooster will be aggressive, until it is too late. Roosters are generally aggressive to children and then women FIRST.

You really don't need a rooster at this stage of the game. You have years for this hobby. If you get a broody hen, wait the 21 days, and slip day old chicks under her, there is nothing funner than watching a broody hen with chicks, or get fertilized eggs from someone else, even if you don't know anyone, it is amazing what you can find if you try, or buy fertilized eggs on the site here. But really for a back yard project, chicks from the feed store work fine.

Chickens are a lot of fun, but many many people have been soured on the whole chicken thing due to an experience with a rooster as a child. I currently have a great roo, he has never been aggressive to me in any shape or form, but I do not trust him with my grandchildren for an instant, THEY are too important to me.

MrsK

 

[Daisy8s]

I would respectfully disagree with Mrs K. You can have a rooster if you have children. Just be vigilant about keeping them apart until the children are old enough to understand how to behave around them. I agree that young children shouldn't be mingling with the chickens (even hens can get curious and peck) but that doesn't mean you can't have chickens at all.

I really think it's important for kids to grow up around animals. I grew up on a farm with lots of animals, including some huge bulls. We kids were given instructions about where we could go and where we could NOT. It's no different than teaching your kids to stay way from the stove.

 

[math ace]

You do not have to eat the roosters....

You can advertise the nicest looking rooster on Craigslist or take him to chicken swap in the area or call around to the feed stores and see if they will take him.
A lot of the feed stores around here will take roosters in and re-sell them.

If need be, you can get rid of the second rooster.

I HIGHLY suggest you do some reading about training and handling roosters before deciding to keep one. I have 6 on my property right now. I have to keep each separte from the others. . .. I have them all friendly towards people, but they don't like each other.

Also, I have a teenager that is hyper. He is always running, or yelling, or waving his hands. Many of my roosters can not stand him. The roosters are GREAT by everyone else, but my teenager makes them nervous because he acts like a natural predator with all his jerky hyper movements. The roosters are doing what they are suppose to do.... Protect their flock.

PERSONALLY, I would concentrate on just raising the hens right now. I would get a rooster LATER. . . .
If you decide to hatch eggs later.... you could order some eggs from folks on BYC. You wouldn't need a rooster at all to do that