Should I evict my rooster?

[koko365]

Hello, I'm just wondering if I should evict my rooster from the coop? He's 1 year old this July and so are the three hens that he lives with. He's always grumpy with me and does that side-step at me when I bring fresh water and food into the coop each day. Sometimes I have to hold up the empty metal pie-plate as a shield to protect my feet and legs. He's never actually hurt me, but he has pecked at me and scratched me. The 3 poor hens each have bare backs from his attentions. They don't seem to be very fond of him although I'm not sure if I would ever be able to tell. There is a "wild or free-range rooster" that always visits my yard. I'm concerned if I evict my rooster it might fight with this wild one. And I actually like the free-range rooster better then mine. I haven't kicked him out because I do feel responsible for him. I bought all four from the local Tractor Supply store 1 year ago.

 

[MamaPoult]

Hmm I mean if your hens don't like him and are getting tore up I personally would get rid of him. Let some other people chime in though before you make a decision. A multitude of counsel can't ever hurt

 

[Themellowyellows]

You can get a chicken cape for your hens, it goes over the hens backs to protect them from the roosters "attentions..." I would not get rid of him, maybe find a new home if you do not want to try again with capes... Does the free range rooster own to someone? Does he mate with your hens?

 

[aart]

I'd get rid of him(stewpot).

 

[KatsHerd]

Hello, I'm just wondering if I should evict my rooster from the coop? He's 1 year old this July and so are the three hens that he lives with. He's always grumpy with me and does that side-step at me when I bring fresh water and food into the coop each day. Sometimes I have to hold up the empty metal pie-plate as a shield to protect my feet and legs. He's never actually hurt me, but he has pecked at me and scratched me. The 3 poor hens each have bare backs from his attentions. They don't seem to be very fond of him although I'm not sure if I would ever be able to tell. There is a "wild or free-range rooster" that always visits my yard. I'm concerned if I evict my rooster it might fight with this wild one. And I actually like the free-range rooster better then mine. I haven't kicked him out because I do feel responsible for him. I bought all four from the local Tractor Supply store 1 year ago.

I don't personally think 3 hens is enough for a rooster. That's a large chance of a hen being favourited too often, probably why you're having issues. He could also be acting aggressive due to this other free range rooster. Are your chickens free range? Can they access this other rooster? I personally think more hens, and then if no changes, cull him. Nasty roosters are not what you want in your gene pool.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello, I'm just wondering if I should evict my rooster from the coop? He's 1 year old this July and so are the three hens that he lives with. He's always grumpy with me and does that side-step at me when I bring fresh water and food into the coop each day. Sometimes I have to hold up the empty metal pie-plate as a shield to protect my feet and legs. He's never actually hurt me, but he has pecked at me and scratched me. The 3 poor hens each have bare backs from his attentions. They don't seem to be very fond of him although I'm not sure if I would ever be able to tell. There is a "wild or free-range rooster" that always visits my yard. I'm concerned if I evict my rooster it might fight with this wild one. And I actually like the free-range rooster better then mine. I haven't kicked him out because I do feel responsible for him. I bought all four from the local Tractor Supply store 1 year ago.

You need at least 2 or 3 more hens. If he’s a Rhode Island Red, you need 12 more. ( from experience, as RIR are known to be aggressive breeders.)

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sometimes I have to hold up the empty metal pie-plate as a shield to protect my feet and legs. He's never actually hurt me, but he has pecked at me and scratched me.

With the risk of infection I'd consider a scratch as trying to hurt you. If you happen to be bent over when he pecks your eyes are at risk. Children especially are at risk as their eyes are closer to him and they probably aren't that good at protecting themselves.

The 3 poor hens each have bare backs from his attentions. They don't seem to be very fond of him although I'm not sure if I would ever be able to tell.

Some people keep 3 hens with a rooster and do not have barebacked or over-mating issues. Some do. That may not always be the rooster's fault, some hens have brittle feathers that can easily break even if he does everything correctly. But if he is not there that should not be a problem.

I haven't kicked him out because I do feel responsible for him. I bought all four from the local Tractor Supply store 1 year ago.

That is a personal issue. I don't have a rooster and individual hens. I have a flock that consists of chickens that are sometimes replaced. I try to solve for the peace of the flock, not any one individual. Why make the rest of the flock suffer for the benefit on one individual? Your opinion may vary.

What are your goals as far as having that rooster? The only reason you need one is if you want fertile eggs. Anything else is personal preference. Nothing wrong with that, I have a few preferences myself. But those are a want, not a reason. If your goals mean you need a rooster or if your preferences are to have one for whatever reason you can try to keep him, especially if you feel responsible for him.

If you let him loose the two roosters will almost certainly fight. That may be a fight to the death, one may become seriously wounded, or they may reach an accommodation where they get along, probably by always staying far apart. You can try that and see how it turns out or you can build a separate coop/run to keep him in by himself. He won't be very happy about that at first but may settle in. The girls will probably miss him at first but you may be amazed at how quickly they adjust to him being gone.

My goals are different from yours. With me having been around human aggressive roosters before he would have been gone by now. My goals are not what are important, yours are. But I think you will find that experienced people on here will not put up with a human aggressive rooster. It takes most of the fun out of it and you and yours are at risk.

 

[Muser]

I had a Rooster that started being a real menace at about 10 months old. HAD being the key word there. My girls seem less stressed without him, I'm less worried about walking about in my own yard. Best descision I ever made in regards to my flock.

Yeah, they are lovely to watch the dynamics and they do protect the flock and keep a constant eye out for dangers, but when he became the danger, he had to go. It hasn't 100% put me off having Roos in the future, but the first sign of aggression to me, my family or my girls, he's out!

 

[Tstraub]

If by eviction you mean set him free in your yard or neighboring property then absolutely not. If you mean stew pot or local farm auction then that’s a perfectly reasonable option. I don’t mean to jump to any conclusions but since you said you worry about him fighting with a feral rooster that has been hanging around your property it makes me think you don’t plans to remove him from your property

 

[Muser]

If by eviction you mean set him free in your yard or neighboring property then absolutely not. If you mean stew pot or local farm auction then that’s a perfectly reasonable option. I don’t mean to jump to any conclusions but since you said you worry about him fighting with a feral rooster that has been hanging around your property it makes me think you don’t plans to remove him from your property

Oh yes, you are right, I hadn't made that assumption, I thought OP meant to cull him or sell him, not to literally set him free... I agree with Tstraub, please don't just kick him out to fend for himself. You are responsible for him, one way or another. I'd cull, sell or give away if someone is willing to home him!