New Member from Colorado & New to Taking Care of Chickens

Hello!

My name is Summer and I've fallen into taking care of chickens just this week! A mystery little rooster (that the Internet tells me is a Silver Laced Wyandotte) showed up on my grandparents' front porch last weekend. No one claimed him and he wouldn't leave, so I decided to name him Odysseus and take him home with me to make sure he gets fed and watered and doesn't end up as dinner for a coyote or a victim of the suddenly falling temperatures.

While I have experience with just about every other kind of farm animal, this is my first time with chickens. Right now, I'm trying to find a couple pullets/hens to help keep him busy and socialized but I'm having no luck so far. It seems that mostly people sell chicks, which I guess are kind of out of season right now but I'm not looking to raise babies. I was in a pretty bad car accident in July and my mobility is still impaired and recovering as a result, so I'm unable to put in all the extra time/money chicks would need.

I'm glad I stumbled onto this site! I have no idea even where to start with bird care so it's nice to find a resource like this one to help me make sure I'm not a worse fate for Odysseus than a coyote or raccoon.

Welcome to BYC! It is fine to keep a rooster without hens, so whether you decide that either you don't want more chickens, or that you will be better off waiting until spring to get him some pullets, you will be fine.

Since he is a new bird and just "showed up", I would recommend checking him over for lice, mites, injuries, etc.

Oh, and good luck with him!

Thanks very much for the welcome!

We did check him over before re-homing him from my grandparents' porch to our barn - I guess I should have specified that while I don't have experience with poultry, my dad does so he knew what to look for. He was definitely well cared for and clean, nails and spurs rounded down and everything, which is why we waited to see if I could find his original owner before moving him. It seemed like he was more of a pet to someone rather than the chickens we normally have running around these parts. I haven't been able to locate them yet but I'm still looking in the meantime.

I wanted to get a couple hens just because he throws a fit every time I leave the pen area in our barn I made for him until I get a coop up. It just seemed like he was used to having someone/thing around to socialize with. If I can't find his owners and I do end up keeping him, I'd like him to be happy and social.

Go over to the Colorado board. DK had some SLW pullets for sale (I think she's in the metro area).

There is also a bird swap in Brighton in 2 weeks if you can't find anything sooner.

Thanks so much for the information!

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You will need to get more than a couple hens. The proper ratio of rooster to hen to keep the hens safe is 1 roo to 8 to 10 hens. Roosters can over mate a couple hens and hurt and injure them badly. As stated above, you can keep him as a single bachelor. Chickens do better with more of their kind, so if you want him to have the company of hens, get him at least 8 of them.

Stop by your state thread and chat with your chicken neighbors. Maybe someone nearby has some hens for you...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/68894/colorado

You can also check our Buy Sell and Trade section for birds as well....https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/67/buy-sell-trade

Enjoy your new Rooster and welcome to our flock!

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Congratulations on the acquisition of Odysseus. X2 on TwoCrow's warning about the 10 to 1, hen to rooster ratio. If you decide to get some hens to go with your rooster, you need to get 9 or 10 of them, or your rooster will likely be very hard on your hens physically; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with Odysseus.

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you.

Good luck with your rooster!