Solitary rooster?

[zebraffe4231]

My rooster majorly over-mates the hens and is very aggressive towards them (and me but we're working on it and its getting better). I've heard every possible option and I've narrowed it down to two which would be to keep him with the hens and try and keep their saddles on or build him a bachelor pen and let him live alone. I really don't think that I should keep him with the hens because he torments them to the point where they run to me to save them and all of their backs are bare. It just doesn't seem fair to keep them living with a beast who is terrorizing them. I have 5 hens and I can't get any more, nor will I kill the rooster, so I feel like the best option is to have him live alone. I realize that chickens are social animals so my question is could he live happily and healthily alone? I feel like if I got another rooster to live with him it would just be bad since he is so aggressive. Also would it help with the flogging if he has no hens to protect? Thanks so much!

 

[bobbi-j]

If this were my flock, I'd rehome the rooster. (OK, to be honest the rooster would be in my freezer, but since that's not an option for you, I mentioned rehoming.) If he truly is terrorizing your hens, that would be the best thing for him as long as he goes to a home with other chickens to keep him company and for the hens because then they could live in peace. Yes - you could put him in solitary confinement, but because chickens are social animals, I don't think it would be the best option for the rooster. You have to decide if you want to do what's best for him, or what makes you feel better.

 

[zebraffe4231]

Could I get another rooster and put them in a coop together away from the hens?

 

[keesmom]

Could I get another rooster and put them in a coop together away from the hens?

What would you do if they don't get along?

 

[zebraffe4231]

At that point I would probably rehome both of them or if the new one isn't aggressive i'd keep him with the hens. There is too much stress involved in keeping these chickens. I tried lol

 

[donrae]

You didn't want a rooster in the first place.

You call him a beast and say he terrorizes your hens.

You say you're stressed out trying to manage your chickens.


I'm going to say trying to run a bachelor pad and introduce a strange rooster to your current bird is going to send your stress through the roof. Having two coops to maintain is a pain, trust me. Plus, you'll simply have another freeloading bird you'll commit to feeding for several years. I'd say get rid of your current rooster. You'll be amazed how much calmer your flock is, and you'll actually enjoy spending time with them.

 

[Mrs. K]

Chicken society is harsh. MOST backyard flocks do not have the space or the hen counts needed to have a rooster. When they do have a rooster it causes the very problems you have stated, and usually the neighbors are not that keen on it either. A lot depends on your set up and the space you have available.

If you rehome your rooster, your flock will calm down, and you will enjoy the flock more. Accidental roosters are a fact of life, and you need a plan. It will be a little sad it you rehome something you raised, but it truly is the best option, and you are going to be so glad you did.

It is wishful thinking to hope that he will start being nice, or that if you got him a friend, he would be nice. Roosters only want hens as friends, unless they are raised together, and even then, it does not always work out. Two strange roosters is a cock fight waiting to happen.

The above posters are respected, experienced poultry people. I am sure that is not the advice that you were hoping for, but it is the best advice, the rooster is not working in your flock. The flock needs to be more important, he needs to go.

Mrs K

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You didn't want a rooster in the first place.

You call him a beast and say he terrorizes your hens.

You say you're stressed out trying to manage your chickens.


I'm going to say trying to run a bachelor pad and introduce a strange rooster to your current bird is going to send your stress through the roof. Having two coops to maintain is a pain, trust me. Plus, you'll simply have another freeloading bird you'll commit to feeding for several years. I'd say get rid of your current rooster. You'll be amazed how much calmer your flock is, and you'll actually enjoy spending time with them.

X 2

 

[Folly's place]

x3!!! Mary

 

[keesmom]

You didn't want a rooster in the first place.

You call him a beast and say he terrorizes your hens.

You say you're stressed out trying to manage your chickens.


I'm going to say trying to run a bachelor pad and introduce a strange rooster to your current bird is going to send your stress through the roof. Having two coops to maintain is a pain, trust me. Plus, you'll simply have another freeloading bird you'll commit to feeding for several years. I'd say get rid of your current rooster. You'll be amazed how much calmer your flock is, and you'll actually enjoy spending time with them.

X 3. You stated in another thread that your current male has attacked you and even got your face. He is aggressive even with the hens. I highly doubt he would be nice to another male.

Instead of stressing yourself with multiple coops and trying to introduce a second rooster you should seriously consider rehoming your current problem bird.