Very Friendly Roo to Humans - But Taking all the feathers off my girls

[snowhorse]

I have a big beautiful BO Roo. He is about 8 months and I also have a 8 month old Mottled Houdan Roo.

They do not fight and have kept them together as they seem fine.

However my BO Roo has chosen 2 girlfriends and is so big that he has taken most of the feathers off of their backs as he mounts them quite frequently. I do not want to get rid of him because he is a great pet. He has never gone after me or anyone else for that matter. Lets me hold him and he is very courteous and gentle, until it comes to his girlfriends.

My other Houdan Roo is little enough that he doesnt seem to do any damage to any of the girls. But he has decide he likes to jump me from time to time.

I am torn as I think I may have a home for my BO Roo.....Any thoughts on how maybe I can make him stop taking the feathers off their backs reasonably?

 

[danielle82]

Some people put "chicken saddles" on the hens to prevent feathers from going missing. I myself may have to look into that as I have an over-eager roo ....12 hens and some are starting to look a little thin-feathered

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

Yep, chicken saddles are a must. I got mine from luvmychix on here. Either get a saddle, or get him more lady friends....

 

[snowhorse]

I have 12 hens?? How many more does he need lol

Are some Roos just a little more over eager than others?

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

Yes, I believe so. My BR picked his 2 favorite hens and I had to get saddles for those 2 because he was destroying their backs.

 

[2dancingrats]

My hens are looking pretty pitiful too. Do all hens look this way if you have a roo? Tried duct tape. It did seem to help, but really hard to apply unless you have an assistant. My girls free range. I have twelve hens and two roos. My husband would like to cull the "mean" one (he even tears feathers out of their necks) but since we are getting another 18-24 hens this spring, I'm thinking they might need the two-roo protection plan. Any thoughts?

 

[PandoraTaylor]

I have 34 hens and 1 roo, there are 20+ hens with bare backs in my flock, I am having to make saddles!

lol I don't think a second roo would be very helpful at the moment.

 

[2dancingrats]

Anyone who has a roo and hens without bare backs? Do the saddles bother the hens? Are they hard to put on?

 

[henney penny]

I have saddles on three of my hens.I had a big rooster last spring and he was very aggresive with the hens and there feathers never did grow back so they will always have saddles on.Thye don`t mind them,it takes a day or so and then they never mind them at all.

 

[MaggieRae]

Does anyone know how long you can leave the saddles on? Is it possible you could leave them on almost permanently? I've been thinking about getting a couple for some of my smaller hens.