How do I stop my rooster from pecking her hens feathers?
Feeding whole oats, rolled oats, alfalfa hay and alfalfa meal can prevent the rooster from attacking hens. Also, allowing the birds to feed in a free range can take care of their dietary needs, including vitamins and proteins. A change from chicken pellets to chicken mash also appears to reduce aggressiveness.
Why does my rooster keep attacking the hens?
Poultry farmers are often faced with injured hens and at times even the death of their hens because of an aggressive rooster. At times, the aggressiveness is so severe that it can even result in cannibalism. Poor diet, cramped coops and boredom among roosters seem to be the main causes of aggressive behavior.
How do I make my rooster less aggressive towards my chickens?
Dimming the coop lights may also help, as it tends to reduce the risk of pecking activity. The flooring in your coop may be another area causing aggressive behavior. Bare, wired, or sandy coop flooring hurts chickens’ sensitive feet.
What do you do with an aggressive rooster?
The following are some things you can do to deal with an aggressive rooster.
- Wear the Right Clothes.
- Do not Back Away.
- Spend Some Time In Their Territory.
- Pick Them Up and Hold Them.
- Give Him Some Treats.
- Set Boundaries In a Gentle Way.
- Get Another Rooster.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings.
How many hens do you need per rooster?
We normally recommend one rooster for every ten hens or so. In a large flock, there is often more than one rooster, with no problems. In smaller flocks, it’s a greater risk. However, many breeders keep significantly greater numbers of roosters with their girls–one rooster for every two, or one for every five.
Can hens and roosters live together?
With a rooster around your flock, your hens will live happily and they will lay fertile eggs. Roosters are also good pets. Generally roosters become more aggressive than your laying hens. And he may try to escape from the coop if he find anything outside the coop that is trying to harm, disturb or steal his hens.