Rooster questions

[TheGoldenGirlz]

I have thought about separating them as well but the Welsummer and Patridge Rock are my hubby's! He ordered them with the 25 hens. Poli was an exotic mystery gift from the hatchery! He is lovely! He is jet black with the black and white head plumage! The other two will become multi-colored but boy are they aggressive, and one has already gone at my daughter!

Maybe talk to your husband about culling the aggressive roosters. I wouldn’t try to keep a chicken that could cause harm to people or other chickens. The poli sounds gorgeous!

 

[GreatGranny]

Thanks for the advice, Golden Girls! I just finished chatting with my hubby! He had just come in from working in the coop and he was very concerned about Poli and the two aggressive roos! We have decided to take the aggressive roosters out of the run and put them in the new run we built for our two geese (girls, 2 weeks old) to see how things play out from there! The geese will not be in the run for weeks so we can watch the roosters and make some final decisions reference them. My hubby also agrees Poli is best for the girls and we should get him healed up fast! Thanks again!

 

[TheGoldenGirlz]

Thanks for the advice, Golden Girls! I just finished chatting with my hubby! He had just come in from working in the coop and he was very concerned about Poli and the two aggressive roos! We have decided to take the aggressive roosters out of the run and put them in the new run we built for our two geese (girls, 2 weeks old) to see how things play out from there! The geese will not be in the run for weeks so we can watch the roosters and make some final decisions reference them. My hubby also agrees Poli is best for the girls and we should get him healed up fast! Thanks again!

No problem. Hope it works out!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had a polish rooster killed by having his crest pecked open. If you are seeing aggression it's best to make your decisions now before the roosters do it for you.

 

[red horse ranch]

Several years ago I had a black and white polish cockerel and he was so sweet. But the pullets picked his head clean and I had to keep anti pick lotion on the bare scalp. I also had a lot of other roosters at the time. So I found a home for him with an old woman who had 3 or 4 hens. She bragged about him every time I saw her and she just loved him.
So I think you would be very happy to keep your polish instead of the other roos. I wish I had been able to keep mine.

 

[GreatGranny]

We have moved the aggressive roosters to another run for the time being but we have noticed (today) that even the hens are now pecking at Poli's bare spot on the back of his head! I wish I could cover it or make some sort of hat for him till it heals... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as he is the rooster we want to keep with our hens!

 

[red horse ranch]

It may not look very pretty but you need to get some anti pick lotion on his head. I use Rooster Booster anti pick. It is black and must taste extremely nasty but the hens will leave him alone after the first taste. And it won't hurt your rooster.

 

[GreatGranny]

It may not look very pretty but you need to get some anti pick lotion on his head. I use Rooster Booster anti pick. It is black and must taste extremely nasty but the hens will leave him alone after the first taste. And it won't hurt your rooster.

Thanks for the great info, red horse! My hubby and I jumped in the car and drove over to Tractor Supply and purchased a bottle of Rooster Booster Peck No More, and now Poli is sporting a streak of it on the back of his head! The hens tried to peck at it, and some were defiant with the pecking but after two or three tries the taste must have gotten to them because they kept scratching their beaks on the ground and shaking their heads...and they walked off! Hopefully, this will keep working with them and Poli has a chance to heal! Thanks again!

 

[red horse ranch]

Thanks for the great info, red horse! My hubby and I jumped in the car and drove over to Tractor Supply and purchased a bottle of Rooster Booster Peck No More, and now Poli is sporting a streak of it on the back of his head! The hens tried to peck at it, and some were defiant with the pecking but after two or three tries the taste must have gotten to them because they kept scratching their beaks on the ground and shaking their heads...and they walked off! Hopefully, this will keep working with them and Poli has a chance to heal! Thanks again!

I always think it is funny when the taste finally gets to them.

It seems like the reason they go for the white top hat on a Polish is because the blood at the base of a new feather is visible thru the white hair. Keep the anti pick lotion handy. Since I raise a lot of chickens I always have 2 or 3 bottles around, ready to grab at the first sign of pecking.

By the way, your rooster looks adorable!

 

[GreatGranny]

Thanks for the kind words red ranch! These roosters (cockerels?) are giving me fits! They are 10 weeks old and I was supposed to only have two, and now I find out I have 5... And to make matters crazier, I have two 10-week old roosters trying to mount my pullets already!! And they are very aggressive with them! But Poli has not done this. He crows but he is very gentle and attentive to the hens. So, we just may be culling 4 roosters this weekend. They are in separate pens now. Do you have any idea the best age for culling roosters for the dinner table? Is 10-weeks old too young? Thanks again for your help!