Wasn't sure where to post this,so if this is the wrong place,please feel free to move. I have 3 Roosters(I was wanting to keep all 3,but after this,2 of them are going into my freezer this weekend)and 8 hens. They are 17 weeks old. They free range from first light until dusk. Well,all 3 of them have taken a liking to my biggest hen. Her name is Big Momma. Yesterday afternoon,they kept getting on her,doing their thing,then just stand on top of her,until I could get to them with a stick. I didn't really bother them at first,until I saw that she was actually hurt. She was just laying there,not moving,even when another one came up on her,she wouldn't move. I looked and she has these huge holes on the top of her back. I'm not meaning like scratches or cuts,but these are deep holes way down inside her. One hole is about 1 inch long and about 2 inches wide. Anyhow,after I finally got the Roosters into the coop last evening,I tried moving her,and she'd go to stand up,but then plop right down...almost like her legs were broke and she just couldn't stand. I ended up having to leave her out of the coop all last night on account of when all the other chickens were up on their roost,I moved her in there,and those darn Roosters flew down and went to start mating her again. Well,this AM,as soon as all the chickens came out of their pen,I put her in there and closed the gate. None of the chickens ever go into the pen anyways during the day,because all their feed dishes and water are outside the fence. I have a waterer inside the fence now for her,right beside her because she just can't really move. She tries to move a bit,bit she's putting her wings to the ground and using them to move her just an inch or so every now and then. She's eating good and drinking her water. See,I'm not for sure if her legs are actually broke,or if her cuts are just so deep,that it hurts to stand up. When she uses her wings to move herself,she kinda like pulls along on her belly,she doesn't use her legs at all. She's such a sweet hen,and I really hate to loose her,but if she's never going to get better and will always be like this,then I don't want to make her suffer any more. My gut is telling me she needs to be put down,but was wondering if any one else has had something like this happen,and have their hen to go on and live a happy and healthy life. To be honest,I'm nearly tempted to put all 3 roosters in my freezer this weekend. I hate to even wait that long,on account of all my hens are staying under my shed now,because if they ever come out,they get downed by a Rooster. I have had to move a small waterer under the shed just to where they won't have to leave it to go get a drink. Sorry for the long Novel...what is your advice??
I would say freezer camp for all 3!! Keep an eye out for a loving roo... those are destined for dinner in my book! They cant treat the ladies nicely then bye bye birdie. Poor henny tho Hope it turns out ok for her!!
Gosh - poor hen - that sounds terrible! I'm so sorry. Three roosters is 2 too many for the number of hens you have, so getting rid of a couple is good. After they draw blood the other chickens may peck at the wound and make it worse. It could be that if the pecks are deep enough she has suffered some brain injury, but the eating and drinking is a good sign. I would keep her separated in a safe sheltered place with food and water near for now. Since she is eating and drinking the decision to cull is a hard one. You might consider giving yourself a timeframe - say 3 days or whatever you think. If she doesn't seem to improve in that time, culling is probably the best decision for her.
Separate that hen to a quiet calm place immediately. Give her yogurt, scrambled eggs and water. Put some Neosporin withOUT lidocaine on her wounds immediately after cleaning them gently. Start a 1/4 cc Penicillin G injection daily for 5-6 days. Infection is your biggest worry, I doubt her legs are broken. Separate the three roos from the hens immediately. Either get rid of two or send them to freezer camp. If you are getting more hens, keep one. If you are not getting more hens, get rid of all three. A minimum ratio of roos to hens is 1:10. You're going to lose more hens if you don't get the roos away from them. Good luck, hope it all works out for you.
I wish I could get rid of them now. I know this may sound silly to some...but I can't kill them now on account of no Freezer Bags. I live waay out in the sticks,and only get to the store once a week. The Roo I was wanting to keep(because he's "The Man" He's the top one..the biggest and prettiest.) I'm not even sure about keep him any more either. He's gotten to where you can't even walk outside without a stick in your hand. If he doesn't see that stick,he'll he come running and will flog you. He will even seek you out,if you are no where near the hens. After last night,I think I broke him of that though. My kids are scared to even go out and play any more. I was hoping after a while,he'd settle down,but now I just don't know if it's worth keeping him or not.
Another "just my opinion" - I have never thought roosters should be loose around children. I know many people grew up with roosters, but why take the chance with a proven, mean rooster?
Your children are afraid to go outside. Your hens are afraid to go outside. Lock up the roosters now--ALL THREE OF THEM. Even if they can't go to freezer camp for a bit, they need to be in jail ASAP. There are many sweet roosters out there. These guys aren't. They are terrorizing your place and you are letting them. Lock them up now.
Quote:Ummm... do you have a COOLER? Throw the bird carcasses in a cooler with some salty ice water and let them sit for a few days before freezing. This helps them "age" and be more tender, anyway. Don't let the fact that you don't have any Freezer Bags stop you!!! WHACK THEM ROOS, NOW!!! Sorry to hear about your hen. Hope she gets better.
those roos could maime your children. if you dont have freezer bags or a cooler then just kill them and bury them. some friends of mine have also found that their mean rooster bred mean sons and their nice rooster had nice sons. no matter how pretty, if the roosters are nasty its not worth it. there are millions of decent roos out there, 99.9% are free. dont put up with their crap.
