Rooster w/ Hens: Advantages/Disadvantages?

[staceymw]

New to chicken owning please explain eggs production

Can antibiotic mess with egg production?

Can we eat them if the chickens are sick or have been on antibiotics.

If not how long do you wait before u eat them.

What about fertizlzed eggs can we eat them.

What if i collected them every day a put them in the frig does that stop incubation.

I just don't want to open a egg and find any babies lol

Want to know all the facts

 

[preschoolmama]

I have two chickens, hoped they would both be hens, one ended up being a rooster.
The rooster is a Barred Rock and hen an EE. They are 20weeks, the hen is much smaller than him and EVERY SINGLE TIME I'm in view, he HAS to mount her. I'm obviously a threat right? Why else would he do this?
How can I stop it, or should I even try? I just feel sorry for her lol. I want another hen soon, but for now what should I do?

He only does this when they're in the coop/run, when I let them free in the yard, he doesn't.

He has tried to chest pump me, quite often, with his little intimidating dance that doesn't work, so each time, I just pick him up and hold him for a while.

Of course, when I have treats its another story lol my bff

 

[abenardini]

Hi there!

I can tell you what others would - you need more hens for a roo. Most people, I've seen suggest a ratio of 1 rooster to 10 hens (I'm sure those numbers are a bit flexible, but a rooster's job is to mate with hens and protect them). If you have only one hen for him to mate and he is very productive, he will over-mate her.

This causes stress to the hen and may even force her to stop laying. I too, have current roo problems of my own...but it's with integration. *Sigh*

 

[staceymw]

Hi there!

I can tell you what others would - you need more hens for a roo. Most people, I've seen suggest a ratio of 1 rooster to 10 hens (I'm sure those numbers are a bit flexible, but a rooster's job is to mate with hens and protect them). If you have only one hen for him to mate and he is very productive, he will over-mate her.

This causes stress to the hen and may even force her to stop laying. I too, have current roo problems of my own...but it's with integration. *Sigh*

I do think i have a too high of a ratio of males to females unfortunately im trying to figure out who my other males are. Lol road island red are hard to tell.

No sores on the bottom of their feet. Just very red and swollen.

They ate eating and drinking. Looks like it bothering them a little

 

[keesmom]

New to chicken owning please explain eggs production

Can antibiotic mess with egg production?

Can we eat them if the chickens are sick or have been on antibiotics.

Why are you giving them antibiotics? The medication should not affect laying, but whatever your flock has may. What do the instructions for the antibiotic say as far as an egg withdrawal period?

What about fertizlzed eggs can we eat them.

What if i collected them every day a put them in the frig does that stop incubation.

I just don't want to open a egg and find any babies lol

Want to know all the facts

Yes you can eat fertilized eggs. An egg will only start to develop if a hen begins to set on it or you put it in an incubator.

 

[preschoolmama]

Hi there!

I can tell you what others would - you need more hens for a roo. Most people, I've seen suggest a ratio of 1 rooster to 10 hens (I'm sure those numbers are a bit flexible, but a rooster's job is to mate with hens and protect them). If you have only one hen for him to mate and he is very productive, he will over-mate her.

This causes stress to the hen and may even force her to stop laying. I too, have current roo problems of my own...but it's with integration. *Sigh*

There's no way I can have 10 hens lol. At most, I can probably have 3 hens. I hope to be doing that soon. Its more of my concern than here at this point, she seems extremely happy and healthy, no missing feathers, doesn't try to run from him, always follows him, steals food straight from his mouth, and I got my FIRST EGG yesterday!

Thank you for replying. Good luck with yours.
Any suggestions with his attitude towards me?

 

[abenardini]

That's good the hen seems relatively stress-free .

For his aggression toward you, many I've seen on the boards would suggest treating him as a rival rooster (you put yourself as a roo and become top bird). Others would say it is better to not simulate roo behavior for a permanent solution. Otherwise, the roo will always try to challenge you for the top bird spot.

What has worked for me so far with Roopert, my rooster for human aggression (he's only shown a little with dancing at me). I immediately talk to him, pick him up, and carry him around petting him.

After I put him back on the ground, he looks a bit confused because if I were a bird, I wouldn't act this way.

Other things that help are offering treats. Other roosters won't offer treats in the same manner humans do, so that can also work. It's my understanding with chickens, they'll either see you as another competing bird...or they won't.

I prefer to be the mobile food dispenser and try to respect their space. I won't tolerate outright brutality toward other birds, though. When I let out the little birds for some free range time, I put Roopert back in the 8x8 ft coop for a timeout.

 

[staceymw]

Why are you giving them antibiotics? The medication should not affect laying, but whatever your flock has may. What do the instructions for the antibiotic say as far as an egg withdrawal period?


Yes you can eat fertilized eggs. An egg will only start to develop if a hen begins to set on it or you put it in an incubator. 

Thank you for your help.

I was giving them antibiotics because i thought they had some kind of infection on their feet. Because i noticed the bottom of their feet are red and swollen. They don't have sores yet.
I only gave them 1 dose today and i want to make sure im doing the right thing for them.


I HAve attched a photo of the instructions on the antibotics

 

[staceymw]

I would suggest you read some of the treads on rooster behavior. I had a rooster and did not know how to become the "king" of the flock and when I did try it was too late. He got to the point that everytime I can anywhere near the hens he would attack me. We had to cull him. /img/smilies/sad.png  I do plan on getting another one now that I have some knowldge.


Here is one great link.



http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html



Good luck!  /img/smilies/big_smile.png

My roo doesn't attack me he knows im boss lol he runs from me lol

He doesn't like to be picked up

 

[preschoolmama]

the roo will always try to challenge you for the top bird spot.

Yes, the Times I've tried this, he'll freeze or walk away until I turn my back to him lol then runs at me and does the dance, chest pumps me and waits for me to make a move lol

I immediately talk to him, pick him up, and carry him around petting him.

After I put him back on the ground, he looks a bit confused because if I were a bird, I wouldn't act this way.

Haha yes I've done this too and it totally confused him, usually calms him down until the next day.

Other things that help are offering treats. Other roosters won't offer treats in the same manner humans do, so that can also work.

Treats work every time, until he finished the treat lol I wish he didn't see me as a competing bird

I prefer to be the mobile food dispenser and try to respect their space. I won't tolerate outright brutality toward other birds, though.

My roo doesn't attack me he knows im boss lol he runs from me lol

He doesn't like to be picked up

Thanks for the link. I'll look at it.