over active ****!!

[jenny parker]

we have got a year old cockerel and 4 hens. he only seems to tread 2 of them but on more than the other. she now has no feathers on her back and when you pull the wing out half of that has gone too. she looking very red were the feathers have been worn down. we have filed his nails down but that hasnt made much difference. we have separated them at night but as they are free range we cant control what goes on in the day. any ideas??

[sir.prize]

Have you got a big oven pot?

[wildwood]

If you're any good at knitting, knit him a couple of socks, no kidding!
I am not convinced that the redness is caused by the rooster. Are you sure this hen is not on the bottom of the pecking order and the other girls are having a b!tching session every morning?
Once it starts bleeding the others will definitely peck at the back so the poor hen will have to be separated anyway.

Sorry, I have not got an easy solution.