Balding hen

[TheBirdBabe]

I have this poor hen that is a favorite amongst my roosters. They have never been a problem until recent.. for obvious reasons. lol

They keep pulling her feathers out on the back of her neck! Otherwise, they're great roosters, but the poor girl is starting to get sunburnt! Is there something I could put on this to deter them? Or should I separate them? I've tried separating them before for a few hours & my top rooster just about went mad trying to get out.

(The pictures don't look as bad as it actually is. )

 

[DobieLover]

I have this poor hen that is a favorite amongst my roosters. They have never been a problem until recent.. for obvious reasons. lol

They keep pulling her feathers out on the back of her neck! Otherwise, they're great roosters, but the poor girl is starting to get sunburnt! Is there something I could put on this to deter them? Or should I separate them? I've tried separating them before for a few hours & my top rooster just about went mad trying to get out.

(The pictures don't look as bad as it actually is. )

Rehome all but one rooster. This is what happens when your ratio of males to females is too high.

 

[Chookchicken]

How many roosters and hens do you have?

 

[TheBirdBabe]

How many roosters and hens do you have?

I have an adult flock of 8 bantam hens, 3 bantam roosters. Then I have a juvenile flock of 3 bantam hens & 2 bantam roosters.

 

[Chookchicken]

I have an adult flock of 8 bantam hens, 3 bantam roosters. Then I have a juvenile flock of 3 bantam hens & 2 bantam roosters.

You have to many roosters. You can try 1 rooster to 8 hens. If the problem continues you can either get rid the rooster or get a few more hens.

Are you planning of adding your juvenile flock to your adult flock? I’d recommend that you get rid of the roosters since you already have to many.

 

[TheBirdBabe]

You have to many roosters. You can try 1 rooster to 8 hens. If the problem continues you can either get rid the rooster or get a few more hens.

Are you planning of adding your juvenile flock to your adult flock? I’d recommend that you get rid of the roosters since you already have to many.

They're integrated together now, but they keep separated from each other when they're out & about.
It's hard to pick which ones to get rid of. They all have their own personalities & individual benefits, but my poor hens don't deserve the abuse! lol

 

[TheBirdBabe]

You have to many roosters. You can try 1 rooster to 8 hens. If the problem continues you can either get rid the rooster or get a few more hens.

Are you planning of adding your juvenile flock to your adult flock? I’d recommend that you get rid of the roosters since you already have to many.

Rehome all but one rooster. This is what happens when your ratio of males to females is too high.

I got rid of an adult rooster & also a juvenile rooster last night. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of any more than that.

I kept the "alpha" rooster, but separated him out this morning. Surprisingly there hasn't been much commotion in the run... *yet*. lol, I just can't bring myself to get rid of him because he is such a good protector!

Thank you for the advice though. Both of these comments gave me the reassurance that I needed. I KNOW I have a roo problem, they're just so pretty!

 

[DobieLover]

I KNOW I have a roo problem, they're just so pretty!

I love them too. BUT serious problems can arise with too many males and it's not fair to the girls.
I now have a hen that is blind in one eye because of too many males. I'm back down to two males in a flock of 23.

 

[TheBirdBabe]

I love them too. BUT serious problems can arise with too many males and it's not fair to the girls.
I now have a hen that is blind in one eye because of too many males. I'm back down to two males in a flock of 23.

Oh wow! My boys never really get (what I consider) aggressive. They just tend to get rowdy & pull some feathers out. I know that sometimes they don't mean to take it to the extreme, but it might end up that way accidentally, I'm glad I thinned them out though.

I have a bachelor pad on the opposite end of our area we have, I'm just scared to integrate another rooster in to that flock! I don't like watching them fight.. even the girls just being rude to one another! "Don't make me put you in chicken jail for the day!"

 

[3KillerBs]

I have an adult flock of 8 bantam hens, 3 bantam roosters. Then I have a juvenile flock of 3 bantam hens & 2 bantam roosters.

That is a LOT of roosters.

I now have a hen that is blind in one eye because of too many males. I'm back down to two males in a flock of 23.

I've got those exact numbers now (counting only the adults), and I've got serious rooster-wear on a few of the girls' backs.