Solo Rooster Coop? -- Culling NOT an option

[kalercombs]

I have a year old barred rock rooster who does a great job protecting my 15 hens and 12 pullets, however, he is too rough on the hens. I have one that has a pretty nasty laceration on her back and is hiding from him. She has been separated to heal and de-stress. She is an easter egger and my rooster is very large, even when compared to my larger sized hens. That is part of the problem. The other is that he is young and rough. Almost all of the hens run from him and are not interested. Can I just separate him in his own coop? Will he be lonely? Ideally, the hens will free range near him. Is that better or worse?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Is the laceration from his spurs? Trimming/removing them can help. Being contained away from them will be distressing, especially if they are around him....expect him to be focused on trying to get to them/pacing the barrier....often to the point of not eating/drinking or even injuring himself in the process

 

[kalercombs]

It is from his spurs, but his behavior has gone from just being rough to a point where the hens are grabbed by the head if he's close enough. He most definitely doesn't bother with asking permission. They attempt to escape him, but as I mentioned he's a big one. I could trim his spurs or I could make a blind with a tarp. Thanks!

 

[leighks]

I have a similar situation with my mixed breed 2 year old roo. He’s just too rough with the hens, they all ended up bare backed last year and he also caused a laceration on his favorite hen.

Last summer I experimented with different ways to house him solo. What I found is that he’s very distraught if he can’t see his hens, so I knew I had to find a way to keep them in his sight line at all times.

My coop is a big outbuilding, so I was able to use chicken wire fencing to section off a portion for him. I did the same for the run. Then the hens have fenced off yard space, so I fenced in an area that runs parallel to it for the roo. Either he free ranges or they do, not at the same time.

Now he can always see the hens and be right next to them, but he can’t get to them. After a few days he figured out the arrangement is acceptable and almost a year later it’s his new normal. It was a pain in the butt to figure out how to make it work, but now everyone is happy. Sure he would prefer to be in with the hens, and maybe someday when he calms down he can be, but he can still see and interact with them and the hens aren’t getting roughed up daily. Win-win as best as it can be.

 

[MykaMom]

I have a year old barred rock rooster who does a great job protecting my 15 hens and 12 pullets, however, he is too rough on the hens. I have one that has a pretty nasty laceration on her back and is hiding from him. She has been separated to heal and de-stress. She is an easter egger and my rooster is very large, even when compared to my larger sized hens. That is part of the problem. The other is that he is young and rough. Almost all of the hens run from him and are not interested. Can I just separate him in his own coop? Will he be lonely? Ideally, the hens will free range near him. Is that better or worse?

Have you looked at using chicken saddles?

 

[kalercombs]

Yes, and I even bought some. The hen that is his favorite is pretty feisty, she attacked me, even when she went to roost. She came ALIVE, lol. Just FYI, I didn't try to put the saddle on when she was injured, she's just a firecracker in general.

 

[MykaMom]

Best time to put them on is when their roosting. They're calmest. If necessary, put a towel over their heads to help keep them calm. Best of luck!

 

[Roo5]

I would just get rid of him and buy a young cockerel,4 or 5 months.Sounds a bit too rough.Separation will just be stressful and hen saddles are not natural and from research their not too much fun for the hen itself anyways,escpecially with heat , they would probably be way happier without the rooster.

 

[chkva]

I had a rooster that was the same way, I found him a new home and he's doing great with his new flock. Sometimes chickens don't work with a certain flock. Being separated may make him stress out so much that he gets sick. I like have a roosterless flock, the wisest hen does the watching for the flock like a rooster would.

 

[kalercombs]

I would just get rid of him and buy a young cockerel,4 or 5 months.Sounds a bit too rough.Separation will just be stressful and hen saddles are not natural and from research their not too much fun for the hen itself anyways,escpecially with heat , they would probably be way happier without the rooster.

I definitely worried about the summer heat and humidity here in KY!