I have a 14 month old Dominique hen that has a bright red spot on the side of her butt. Not near the vent. It doesnt have any swelling or even a mark near the center. The skin is smooth no feathers or fluff. She likes to push tight in the back of the laying box and I thought it might just be rubbed raw. It doesnt seem to bother her and is other wise healthy. It may be nothing but thought I would ask if anyone had an idea on it.
A dfferent Question. Is there any way to curb a roo's sex drive. Besides the big "C"

Thanks
Bill

Bill, Is your roo just bothering the hens to death?? Are you saving hatching eggs? If not, why not just remove the Romeo??? The hens will have peace. The Dominique hen may have a bare spot that may become a raw spot, if the rooster is doing it. And you may get more eggs than at present. Pen him separately, if you may want to use him for chicks at another time. And then, he only needs to be with a couple of hens--you will get all the fertile eggs you need in a week. Peace in the poultry yard! CJR

CJR
Gilligan(the rooster) has been riding the hens constantly. Could it be a spring thing? I only have 6 hens and the tops of there wings are all tore up. We already had one successeful hatch and if all goes well this weekend we'll 24 more coming. These are all going to someone else.Its hard to give them away even after just two days! I dont thik the roo will be happy alone but if things dont change I'll give it a try.
Bill

Bare skin on a chicken soon turns deep red. (Can someone tell us why, exactly? Is it like tanning?) If the hen just has a space bare of feathers for a day or two, the reddening will appear. If there is no sign of injury, no lump under the skin, or other indication of a problem, then there probably isn't one. Keep an eye on it and pray for feathers.

Bill, Forget the "Happy"! Chickens breeding is instinct, not happiness, and not just a spring--thing The meanest rooster on earth is not "happy", just following instinct. What about the hens? Are they happy? There are 6 of them. So you must decide behavior-control. Better, if you keep him, that he is on the back side of the poultry area, so he can't see the hens. You can get fertile eggs with short visits by the rooster and save the savaging of the hens backs. Some roosters are not so rough, some seem very caring of their hens and will help raise chicks. Others are very aggressive in their pursuit. But the decisions about the management of our birds is up to us. Good luck, CJR

My flock is a bit young yet but this info is interesting now...

Are particular breeds of roosters more caring than others and apt to help raise chicks, or is a rooster-by-rooster thing?

I have brown leghorn, speckled sussex, golden polish, and lakenvelder roosters (some are going to another home as we discussed elsewhere). Are any of these "caring and helpful"?

Michelle

Michelle, Chickens are as individual as people. You can not say all people of one nationality are the same, even if most have the same color hair and eyes.- it is-also with chickens of one breed. The English breeds might be considered "quieter" (Sussex) but you may have the wildest one of the breed! You just can't predict, but temperment is inherited (but not equally with all offspring) and I do not breed from the few aggressive bantam cocks I have raised. Part is handling, and your interaction with your birds, and the housing and conditions where they live. If children or dogs chase and harrass, they will not be as tame as if all things are more serene. Understanding chicken behavior and temperment comes with interaction, experience and observation. And if you are a "chicken" person--is is very interesting and great pleasure!

Hope you have some nice responsive roosters! CJR

CJR
Michelle you might find this intresting too.
When I said the roo wouldn't be happy I wasn't talking about natures call. I know breeding is programed in his DNA. However he thinks he has to take care of the hens. If I feed him treats he gives his to the girls. If he is at a feeder or waterer and a hen comes over he will walk away till the hens have finished. I put him up his own feeder that the hens can't reach and now thats where he feeds. I removed two hens (for behavier problems) and put them in another building out of site and he paced the fence calling to them all day. That evening the roo was still outside well past time to be perched calling franticly. The hens in the other building were going nuts. I gave in and put them back at night. He is a good natured roo. I can pick him up anytime, even rough him a little and he doesnt even peck me but if a hen sueals when I pick her up look out the fight is on. I think he would fight to the death for one of the gals. I know none of this changes the fact that he's hard on them when he mates. I just wanted to brag on my roo a little. Afer all his name is Gilligan because he's my little buddy.
Bill

Bill,

I have 4 roosters and I rotate them with the flock, two at a time. Funny thing is, I have a "birds of a feather" thing happening. My two barred rocks get along. My two orpingtons get along. But if I mix them up in any other combination, fights break out. Anyway, it is interesting to see the difference in my flock with each set of roos. The barred rocks are sweet boys, to ME, but much more aggressive with the girls, especially sexually. My orpingtons are easier on the girls and although they probably like to mate as much as the next guy, they don't do it non-stop. They spend much more of their time standing guard and "feeding" the girls. The hens seem to follow either set of roosters and both sets feed them. But I notice a difference also. With the calmer orpingtons, I notice that the girls lay better and seem more at ease. I notice the flock more active in their coop at night, eating and sometimes taking dust baths on the floor. But when the barred rocks are with them, I notice the girls up on the roosts as soon as sunset comes around, trying to stay off the floor and get a break from being mounted is my guess. They don't eat as much and my laying production goes down.

Anyway, no real point to this other than some observations I have made when the girls are with each set. It can make a difference in your flock's happiness and production. I also understand the frustrated roo when he is separated. Mine still have contact through fencing. That's just the way I set things up. They will feed the girls through the fence and try to "court" them through the fence also -- doing their little rooster dance.

Susie

A lot of great info on roo behavier but back to the top of the page. The hen with the red spot is eating rust off of the steal posts. She's eating well and the same ration as the others who are not eating rust. Is there something that might cause her to need more iron.I've heard of cows and horses chewing on fences for iron. Has anyone ever heard of a chicken doing this?
Bill