Rooster mounting

[mafaller]

Hi all,

I'm new to chickens and have been having a heck of a time, but have been over on the Emergencies forum trying to figure things out. I have four big roosters and 7 hens. They are almost 18 weeks old. I have one hen that has some paralysis on one side. She has always gotten around fine, but I noticed tonight when I went out to feed them that she was kinda hiding in a spot that isn't her usual place. She always runs to me so that I can put a special pile of food for her, but she wouldn't come out. I went and moved her, and there was a large pile of poop like she'd been there for a while. About 30 seconds after I brought her out my biggest rooster mounted her. I knocked him off of her, but now I'm wondering what's going on. Clearly she wasn't wanting his attention, but maybe because she practically lays on the ground all day he took this as an invite???? I'm about to get rid of my roosters, but I'm awaiting some necropsy findings. Should I worry about my poor hen?

Thanks
Michelle

 

[TexasVet]

Yes, she needs some relief. Roos always pick on the smallest and/or easiest-to-catch hens in my flock. You can tell which ones they are because their backs don't have any feathers left.

I just had to cull 5 of my roosters, and three of them were bantams! Those nasty little boys tag-team the hens. The fastest one catches her, and the others wait their turns.

Sure wish there was a way to increase the hen-to-roo ratio prior to (or during) incubation!

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[ranchhand]

Gosh, that's way too many roosters for 7 hens! The ideal is at least 10 hens per roo and I find that isn't really enough.

Any way you can separate the hens from the roos? Or at least separate the one hen?

 

[mafaller]

Oh Sally, that's a whole nother thread. haha We had the chickens sexed by the seller and he was WRONG.

Buyer beware. haha We were supposed to have 2 roosters in the 27 birds we purchased. We ended up with at least 6. We've lost 14 birds to a mystery illness and two more I sacrificed to an animal diagnostic lab. I'm awaiting the results from the lab. That's what I've been on the emergency forum. I was awaiting the results from the lab to see if we could eat the roosters, instead of just culling them. I'm going to either cull them or seperate them tomorrow. I'll try to call the diagnostic place tomorrow to see if any of the lab work they sent off is back. I'm not even sure if 18 week old chickens would taste very good anyway. They are mutt chickens but they were supposed to be black sex links and new hampshire reds.

Thanks
Michelle in N. Florida

 

[mafaller]

Kathy,

I love my chickens, but they can be some ruthless little things sometimes.

Thanks
Michelle in N. Florida

 

[chickensRheaven]

I am also faced with the reality of having to part with roos. I have two that I know now I just shouldn't have gotten...I have fallen in love with them! Now I don't want to part with them. I have too many for my hens also...since the fox...I hope you find out all you need to and have success rehoming the "boys" if you have to!