Rooster questions

[Gray Ghost]

I have 22 laying hens which are 1 year old. I have 8 hens which are 7 months old. Along with the 8, I received from the hatchery four "packing peanuts" which turned out to be Rhode Island Red roosters.

Before I got those roosters in the mail I never had roosters before. I decided to keep them and start hatching my own eggs once the roosters were mature.

Well, now they are mature. For the last six weeks there has been chicken sex going on pretty much every hour during daylight. My hens and roosters live in the same coop with an enclosed run and they are permitted to free range in my yard most days.

Some of the hens seem to be doing fine with the roosters' attention to them, some are looking a little ruffled on their backs and tails, at least one is pretty mentally traumatized -- hides outdoors all day, won't go into the coop at night until all the other chickens are up on the roost. (Perhaps she doesn't swing that way....)

And one of my 7 month old hens has been hit pretty hard by the roosters so that she's lost all the feathers right down to the skin in a 2-inch-square area on her back.

Please help me out as I'm a rooster newbie:

1. Is my ratio of 4 roosters to 30 hens a good one? I want to go easy on my hens but I also want fertile eggs.

2. Is it normal for some hens to lose their back feathers right down to the skin due to rooster attentions, or is this the result of too many roosters or a rooster which is too rough?

3. What should I do about the hen with the missing feathers? Segregation would be a hassle. Ignore the problem? Some kind of apron?

4. Will her feathers grow back prior to her 18 month molt, or is she doomed to a life of hen sunburn?

Thanks in advance.

Gray Ghost

 

[crazyhen]

I'd have one less roo, Buy aprons for the hens also.

Yes, it is not abnormal to have hens lose some feathers due to breakage from the attentions of the roos. I would also cut some roo toenails, and the spurs need to be blunted. They will cut the hens under the feathers on their sides. You have young roos and they are not the most considerate with the wooing and ahh, well you understand.

Gloria Jean

 

[sourland]

2 young roosters to that many hens would effectively get the job done with a lot less wear and tear on the hens.

 

[TexasVet]

Have to agree with Sourland... two roos is plenty! I'm down to one roo and 30 hens and they still see enough action to produce fertile eggs.

Kathy in Texas
www.ChickenTrackin.com, www.CountryChickens.com

 

[delynnel]

I'm having similar issues, can someone outline how to blunt their spurs and clip their claws (without being maimed myself)?

 

[poodlepill]

I would cut down to 2 roosters. Pick the two nicest personality and nicest to the hens and also the most visually nice looking of the roosters. Some hens get more love than others too and thier back feathers can get worn down to skin. I have one rooster to 13 hens and 3 or 4 of the hens have missing back feathers, he just likes them better because they submit to him easier.

I just took nail clippers and nipped his spurs back some to see if this helps with the feather loss on the back issue.