Separating the hens from the rooster

[thechickenmama]

I have 5 hens and 1 Jersey Giant rooster (he's about 25" tall). The hens are getting pretty bald from Dusty "rooster" trying to mate with them all day and I want to divide my 20 foot coop with chicken wire or hardware cloth and have a side for the hens and a side for Dusty. If I do this will it drive my rooster crazy if he is unable to have contact with his girls?

I also plan to add 3 more feet to the coop and give Dusty 10 feet and the girls 13 feet. The coop is currently 5 feet deep and 8 feet tall. By doing this will he also have enough room? Unfortunately I can't keep them out all day due to preditors and an unfenced property. So unless I am home they will be in the coop. Fortunately there are lots of perches for them to get away from the Boy but it's still not enough. He has his favorites.

 

[gritsar]

I personally would never consider seperating my hens from their roo. I feel it's his place to be with his hens at all times, for their protection. I do have one hen can get bare on the back from the roo because she's his favorite. She wears a saddle all year round.
I think your biggest problem is not enough hens for the rooster. More hens would mean he could spread his love around a bit. If you can't add more, I would look into saddles.

ETA

 

[thechickenmama]

I would love to keep the hens with the roo. I have learn alot from watching do such a great job from protecting them to finding food. And getting more hens is not an option right now. Still need advice on separating them.

 

[TicTac]

Hi there, in my opinion you just have to do what you think is best for your hens. They produce eggs for you and unless your in it for selling babies the roo is there to keep them safe and protected to some extent. Over breeding can lead to more than just bare backs, and as women (not to humanize things too much) I think we tend to get a bit perturbed at the roo's that have a hyper libido.

Saddles are a good idea to some situations but I would have done what you did too. I think all roo's are different you can kind of tell which ones are crazy breeders when they start to crow. I will cull the over aggressive ones and keep the shy one. He still does the job and protects but does not over breed. Separating him wont kill him and he will get used to it. Can you put up a piece of plastic so he cant see them when he is in his time out? Hey hang up a pin up of a hot chicken he can look at that for a few hours...