Hens are dying right after mating

[Djripke78]

I have a large flock of 16 hens with one Giant White Cochin rooster. He is easily twice the size of most of our hens, but is never rough or mean to any of them. He is not aggressive and does not tear out their feathers or cause them any damage during mating. But he's killed two of our smaller hens while mating with them. One we saw by reviewing our surveillance camera from that portion of our property, the other we didn't. The first death happened as soon as our rooster mounted the hen. He got off her and she just didn't get up. She appeared to be alive for a few minutes, but our rooster continued to mate with her a few more times before he gave up and left her. We had found her dead in the yard. No damage to her feathers or body. If we hadn't seen the video, we'd have thought that she just laid down and died. Then today we found another hen, same exact thing, dead in the run. I'm stumped as to why they're dying. He's not aggressive to the hens when they mate, so is it his weight that's killing them? Does anyone have any ideas? We're contemplating rehoming him if this happens again, which would be sad because he's really a very sweet rooster.

 

[Isaac 0]

I would rehome him asap.How long is he on them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Djripke78 Welcome To BYC

It sounds like he is way too big and heavy. Can you post some photos?

You have a few options

• rehome him with full disclosure - someone may have large hens in need of a rooster
• provide him with a separate enclosure and keep him there
• separate him with only your largest hens providing you have at least 6 or more large hens and observe...if he hurts them, then he needs to be by himself
• butcher and eat him

 

[Djripke78]

I would rehome him asap.How long is he on them?

Not long, only about 30 seconds. We have a small California White chicken that he mates with often and with no issues. That's why we're perplexed by what's happening...

 

[Isaac 0]

Are they out of breath?After mating

 

[chicks are life]

I would rehome
little hens and big roos are a nono!

I had a huge red ranger roo 12 pounds who would not on purpose but slice open there backs plus most had bare backs.
The oegb I had he would litterly sit on her!!!!!

He had to go bye bye because he got so stressed with no hens he turned on me no matter what I tried and I know how to handle roos.

He went to a person who would free range him and he had no hens though.

 

[chicks are life]

He was a sweet boy though!
He would attack my dog to protect the girls.
(my dog thought he was playing a huge giant mastiff against a large roo!)

 

[chicks are life]

Giant roo

This was when he was younger! Hes 130 give or take.

 

[Djripke78]

Hi @Djripke78 Welcome To BYC

It sounds like he is way too big and heavy. Can you post some photos?

You have a few options

• rehome him with full disclosure - someone may have large hens in need of a rooster
• provide him with a separate enclosure and keep him there
• separate him with only your largest hens providing you have at least 6 or more large hens and observe...if he hurts them, then he needs to be by himself
• butcher and eat him

Here are a few photos of him with some of the ladies.

 

[Djripke78]

I would rehome
little hens and big roos are a nono!

I had a huge red ranger roo 12 pounds who would not on purpose but slice open there backs plus most had bare backs.
The oegb I had he would litterly sit on her!!!!!

He had to go bye bye because he got so stressed with no hens he turned on me no matter what I tried and I know how to handle roos.

He went to a person who would free range him and he had no hens though.

Our roo never causes damage to our hens. The two deaths are the cause for concern, but had we not seen it on video, we would have thought they just laid down and died...