Rooster advice

[petal]

Our rooster, Gandalf is making our 4 hens backs bald with his efforts. Would it be advisable for me to pen him separately with our 2 young roosters(he does not put up with nonsense from them and they obey him- but not in that way..) for a couple of months so they can have a bit of peace until spring
He is a naughty boy! They must be sick of him.

[Eco-Chic]

You can buy saddles for him to grip and spare your ladies backs while he umm... rides

Mind you it would probably be cheaper to buy him more tarts

[Bramble-Poultry]

you can buy or make saddles, they are really just pieces of canvas held onto the backs with straps under the wings. you will never stop him riding the girls and if you seperate him when you put them back together it will start all over again,

By all means, split them whilsts the backs heal and regrow the feathers, but put saddles on before you reintroduce them or you will be back at this point again in no time.

As Eco-Chic says, a few more ladies will help spread the attentions around a bit, likewise, you could trim his spurs slightly (like clipping nails) to dull the points a bit but again they will regrow.

I reckon a few more ladies, some saddles and all will be right with the world.

[Nicos]

More gals...definitely more gals!!!

I understand 1:8 is supposed to be about right?? ( I've got 2:7...better get my Marans gals pronto!)

[lynda66]

he'll be very tasty

[HayleyB]

he'll be very tasty

cover Donald and Daffy's ears.. quick

[Reb Williams]

Two things:
1) Gandalf is a wonderful name for a cockerel.
2) reading the posts here I was wondering: do hens have any say at all in whether they get, um, serviced? I seem to remember that ours would crouch with their wings braced when expecting attention from the cockerel. That would suggest that they were allowing him to have his wicked way, rather than being forced. But, equally, the fact that they can get so pecked to pieces would suggest that they DON'T have a say in the matter. What are people's thoughts, based on their own flocks?


Reb
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[lynda66]

cover Donald and Daffy's ears.. quick

funny names for a cockerel

[RedThorn]

REb, to my knowledge, they don't really have a choice in the matter.... the crouching occurs after they are ermmm, mature enough....

[RichmondHens]

It's partly dependent on how experienced the cock is. My older boys are very practised and seem to have no trouble marching up to the chosen hen and getting aboard. The younger ones run themselves ragged chasing squawking hens everywhere! This seems to be the case regardless of the age of hen and how experienced she is. Some will submit happily to an experienced rooster, but not endure any attention from a rough youngster!

[HayleyB]

C'mon Lynda DONALD, DAFFY...... Ducks, Don't you 'do' Disney

[lynda66]

C'mon Lynda DONALD, DAFFY...... Ducks, Don't you 'do' Disney

yeah but petal has chickens

[HayleyB]

yeah but petal has chickens

And Crispy and Aromatic's brothers (rescues from our driveway) we built a pond for the girls......

And another few handfuls of ducklings too

[petal]

Gandalf seems to focus his attentions on one hen in particular - Sarah. poor thing. I don't know if more hens would help therefore! He is a gentleman though - always offers her a worm he has scratched up before doing his thing. He is a nice rooster - doesn't attack people! He is a light sussex - hence gandalf the grey/white.. incidently all our baby pekins have hobbit names due to their furry feet! (frodo, sam , merry, pippin.....) I think a little jacket for Sarah might be nice.
At least the ducks haven't started doing rude things.

[Nicos]

Nah- just more gals!!!
Once she's gone broody and is sitting for a few weeks and bringing up the chicks ( cos there's no way you can resist seeing what ikkle bitty babbies look like!!!)- he'll be looking elsewhere anyway

..def more gals!!!