Roosters can be aggressive towards hens, pulling out their feathers and causing them serious injuries.
In enclosed spaces, roosters pecking and pulling hens' feathers can cause serious injures, leading even to death of the birds. Fortunately, chicken keepers can prevent this behavior by providing birds with the appropriate care. Rooster pecking can be due to insufficient nutrients in their diet, boredom or frustration, or insufficient conditions in the living environment, such as a small amount of space, bright light and bad ventilation. When the rooster becomes frustrated or has nothing to peck, he will turn his attention to the hens.
Instructions
1. Provide your flock with five to eight square feet per bird if you keep them in a coop all day. You can reduce this space to four square feet per bird if you let the chickens outside during the entire day.
2. Ensure the rooster is receiving enough food and water, without having to compete with the hens. Check the feed is sufficient in nutrients, palatable and high in fiber. Feed the rooster with a calcium supplement if you suspect that the pecking could be due to a calcium deficiency.
3. Change from a wire floor to litter, and use straw or wood shavings rather than sand in the coop. Keep light levels low, to keep the rooster inactive, and ensure the enclosure is well-ventilated.
4. Create diversions for the rooster, such as straw bales at different levels and tunnels for him to explore. Allow him outside during the day to forage for food.
5. Apply pine tar on the areas where hens have had their feathers plucked out. The taste will deter the rooster from pecking at these places again and allow the skin to heal.
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