Roosters Hurting Hens

[RSAChickenDude]

I have 2 roosters and they are always fighting over my hens.Often they also chase the hens in order to mate with them and end up pulling out thier feathers and hurting them.How can i prevent this from happening.

 

[Lollipop]

Unfortunately there are only 2 ways to prevent this and neither are perfect. One way is to cut down to one rooster. The other is to pen the roosters away from the pullets until the boys are about a year old. Mature roosters usually become more considerate of the hens. Youngsters are like teenage boys and lack finess. Good luck.......Pop

 

[Uppity Peon]

Generally you want to have around 10 girls to every boy. It would also be good to have a big yard with lots of hiding places. If the rooster can't see her he won't be chasing her. You might also need to put saddles on the hens to protect their backs.

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
Yikes! Out of 8 chickens, I have one confirmed cockerel. I suspect one of the Silkies is a cockerel, as well. That leaves me with 6 or 7 girls for 1 or 2 boys. I think I might have a problem. If the Silky definitely turns out to be a cockerel, I think I'll re-home the Red Star. The Silky is absolutely not aggressive, while the Red Star has aggressive tendencies.