Rooster Too Rough?

[JenniferK]

I've read a lot of the posts on rooster behavior, and I get that chicken mating is not a pleasant thing, but I'm just wondering if our rooster is too rough. We are now on our third hen that is afraid to leave the hen house -- it's almost as if he's taking turns. We had two roosters, about 9 months old, and 11 hens of varying ages. I noticed about a month ago that one of the older hens would not leave the hen house and her comb was a little bloody. I brought her out for a while, and when I put her back in the outdoor run the roosters both went after her. So she lived by our back door for a few days because although I could pick her up and she was very docile and sweet, as soon as I got anywhere near the chicken coop with her she would start to panic and act terrified. Well based on advice I got here, we got rid of one of the roos. The first hen seems to be getting along fine now. Then last week I noticed another hen looking really beat up, and not wanting to leave the hen house. Now there is a third hen that I noticed hiding out for a couple of days, and today she was out but hanging on the edge of the yard away from the others. I thought that was odd and was going to check on her when the rooster came after her, chased her around, and mated, after which she vanished in a flash while I was shooing the rooster. I found her in the hen house with a really bloody comb.

I've heard that the hens will let the roosters know if they don't want to mate, but it seems like our older hens are really not willing participants, and like they are actually afraid of the rooster. Will he tone things down a little as he gets older? Is this excessively rough? He's not aggressive with me, by the way. I can pick him up and he settles right down. But I'm feeling like things were better before we had any roosters...

 

[Baralak]

Well it's hard to say.. HOWEVER!!! I believe that he needs to go into chicken jail for a couple of days. Sometimes that tones them down a little.

 

[Jesseschickens]

yes I agree chicken jail for roo!

 

[Beekissed]

I've only ever had one rough roo and he was delicious for Easter Sunday supper. Maybe he was just young, maybe he was just too durn big, but it's not worth dealing with a big, rough roo on my sweet gals when you can find some mighty fine Southern gentlemen roos that court a gal and never leave a mark on 'em.

Try the time out, watch him to see if he shows signs of maturing into a more gentlemanly roo....but I'd be shopping for a smarter roo. The smart ones don't have to chase and they don't have to hurt...the gals come and bow down at his feet for a little lovin'!

 

[Judy]

Here, roos are gentlemen to their hens or they are gone. The world is full of good roos. I won't do that to my hens. I've had to give up on a couple I hated to see go, but that's the way it is.

 

[JenniferK]

Thanks for the replies. They help a lot, because I thought maybe all roosters were that way. I guess I'll try separating him for a little while and see what happens.

 

[dawg53]

I dont think seperating is going to help, it'll probably make it worse. He'll desperately go after the hens once he's out of confinement. You might consider getting an older rooster, over a year old. Personally, I think the older...the better.

 

[JenniferK]

But then aren't we back to too many roosters for the number of hens we have? Or are you saying to trade him in for an older rooster?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Trade him in, sell him, give him away or eat him, your choice. The young roos have only one thing to do...breed, breed, breed and breed again. The older roos are more settled, much less breeding and will treat the hens better. When you get rid of your current rooster and get an older one, slip him in the chicken house during the night, it'll make the transition much easier. Of course, all this is up to you, just my opinion.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:

Most definitely, Dawg.......