Rooster needs a time out...

[Uzuri]

So as I mentioned in another thread, I've got an awful lot of hens with bare backs. Aprons didn't work (first they all attacked each other because of the change, then they figured out how to take them off), I've checked them for bugs, and it's obviously treading-pattern baldness, so I'm thinking it's time for Mister Pain-in-the-hiney to have some time to himself.

So here's the question... about how long should I separate him? I don't want to go too long, because of course the longer he's away the less protection I have for them (even if he's only a speedbump on the predator highway), but I do want the girls to have a chance to recover. I know that in some cases feathers won't come back until molt, so "until the feathers grow back" probably isn't happening

I'm guessing at least 2-4 weeks. Thoughts?

 

[Mandalina]

My roo needs a serious time out also so I am anxious to hear people's answers.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

My rooster plucked my buff orp hens heads bald. I ended up rehoming him for this. The feathers did not come back until their molt. Now...I have a new rooster and they've been snatched bald headed again.

I don't know how your hens are getting their aprons off. I put one on one of my cuckoo maran girls and she's never taken it off and nobody picks on her and the rooster doesn't seem to mind either.

 

[Uzuri]

Obviously I just have a bunch of very intelligent hens. They got them off even when I put a cute little tie on the front to keep the two wing straps from being pulled out over the wings.

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
I don't have problems with our 2 who wear aprons either. I have a golden cuckoo and a bc maran who wear them full time and even though when I put them on them they pitched a fit, they got over it quickly. Rooster doesn't mind it either. I bought the aprons from a BYC'er.

I would think they would need a LONG break from the roo....as in a couple of months, at least. I have 1 roo for 12 hens, but 2 of them were just totally irresistible to him

They were getting really worn on their backs. The aprons are doing their job so far!