Rooster sent to "Death Row" - now Coc au vin!

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I have a mixed flock of hens, ranging from five that were a year old this spring, two that will be a year old this December and two that were hatched in April. I also introduced a Freedom Ranger rooster this summer, one of the same hatch as my two youngest pullets He is a big handsome fellow, but is close to twice the size of some of my hens. My hens seems to hate him, and now that he is of breeding age, he chases them all over the chicken yard, and jumps on them. It looks kinda like rape to me. None of the crooning and dancing I've heard other folks describe from their roosters, and nothing that looks like cooperation from the hens.

A few days ago I noticd that one of the Freedom Ranger pullets ..(or hens, I'm not sure when you stop calling them pullets) had a big bald patch on her back. I figure she is one of his favorites...probably because the Freedom Rangers aren't as fast on their feet as the other girls. Yesterday I examined her more closely and was horrified to discover that along her sides, where her wings hide what's underneath, that she has nasty gouges and raw flesh. His claws have been tearing the heck out of this poor girl. I immediately confined the rooster to a big dog crate in the garage and treated the pullet for her injuries with Blue Kote.

I figure that he stays in the garage until Friday when I have time to set up all the butchering and processing equipment. I'm sort of bummed, but I figure I can't let this brute abuse my girls. Was hoping to gather some eggs for icubation in the spring, but don't think it would be fair to the hens.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

There are definitely kindlier Roos out there. I think I would get rid of him too.

I had to thin one out for the same reasons you're describing. I saved the one that was nicest to the hens and by happy circumstance to me and my kids too.

I don't know if there is a definite breed that makes for a kinder rooster, I think it is all very individual. But I hear RIRs are good and mine happens to be a NEw Hampshire. I know there's a rescue in my state for Roosters and they "re-socialize" them.(I know there's people on here that doubt if that's even possible) That might be a jumping off point if you want a new Roo before spring.

 

[donrae]

I've had roosters stalk specific hens, even when they were free ranged and he had a dozen other girls to choose from. He tasted like chicken!

Young roos often have a hard time figuring out the courting behavior, but with the size difference and the damage I think you're doing the right thing. Lots of good roosters out there, guys the hens just love to be with. Things will be a lot calmer with him gone.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I've had roosters stalk specific hens, even when they were free ranged and he had a dozen other girls to choose from. He tasted like chicken!

I have this young roo, donrae that is pretty good with the ladies but he does have it bad for my little RIR hen. He does stalk her. Like the more she runs the more he wants her. And then she'll squat and submit, more than she needs to. So is it his fault or hers? I sure do need him for free ranging though and I think maybe in my case I should still keep this one....? These chickens always keep me guessing and learning and there are definitely gray areas I guess I need to sort out and weigh the pros adn cons. Comparing him to the one I culled this summer, he's a dream, but still he picks on this one hen. He leaves some ruffled feathers so he's pretty easy on her that way...no damaged skin. But she'll seperate herself from the flock part of the day just to take a break from him and I know that's not good either. I've introduced 3 younger pullets to the flock 2 months ago and she has been hanging out more with their group so now she's not totally on her own all the time.

 

[donrae]

If she does submit and he's not damaging her, I'd just go with your personal comfort level. The rooster I had would chase the hens (two buff orps) and force himself on them, they would never submit and it was all quite violent. He would mate them several times a day, and they were getting bald backs. None of my free range hens have ever had bald backs, even when I had four roosters for sixteen hens. When I realized he was on the porch all day cause those hens were hiding under the porch, all he did was sit up there and wait for them to come out so he could jump them. That's not healthy behavior at all and was his death sentance. Totally ignored the other hens, the other roosters, he had no social interaction with the rest of the flock.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I think I"m pretty comfortable with him. Yeah...that's stalking on another level than what mine is doing. He mingles with the rest of his flock and he has his higher hens following him around...they like him. He goes about other business other than her, and she can be around him for a bit without mating...although she is favored more often than the others. The one I culled--no one wanted anything to do with him at the end and he was often left on his own as the others snuck away: hens, and this other roo. He didn't watch for aerial and potential ground predators the way my current roo does either. I'll stick with him now as he's pretty alert and doesn't do any damage.

Thanks for letting me bounce around my thoughts.

 

[donrae]

Sounds like a keeper, especially if he's still young. The get more skills with the ladies as they age!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Music to my ears. I really do like him. Hopefully Rosey will hang in there too. She's getting skills being more wiley around him, too. Figuring out his patterns. It's kind of funny seeing how smart she can be one day and then the next...not so much...LOL.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Well, as a follow up. My rapist rooster is now resting peacefully in the refridgerator. I did the deed on Friday (yesterday). I confined him to solitary on Wednesday and was rewarded with five eggs on Thursday (haven't had more than 3 for weeks). He weighed in at 8 pounds, fully butchered! No wonder the poor girls didn't want to have him chasing them around! He was handsome though. Oh well. Rest in Peace Waldo, until tomorrow when you go in the crock pot anyway.

 

[galanie]

Well, as a follow up.  My rapist rooster is now resting peacefully in the refridgerator.  I did the deed on Friday (yesterday).  I confined him to solitary on Wednesday and was rewarded with five eggs on Thursday (haven't had more than 3 for weeks).  He weighed in at 8 pounds, fully butchered!  No wonder the poor girls didn't want to have him chasing them around!  He was handsome though.  Oh well.  Rest in Peace Waldo, until tomorrow when you go in the crock pot anyway.

I have one now that might find death row soon if he doesn't stop terrorizing one or two of the ones in molt. They don't want mounted when in molt cause it hurts those tender blood feathers to have him step up there and though he was some he can party with, he's being a jack@zz to the molting ones. Soon I might have some beautiful black and golden hackle feathers for crafting.