Hi there,
So the situation is as follows: I got a few day old chicks from a local farmer and only one of them survived. Turns out that one is a rooster (a white, factory meat one), and here comes the issue: I already have a small flock (5 chickens and one roo) and obviously, the roosters don't get along AT ALL. Consequently, I separated them immediately.
The flock roo is very kind, submissive and not aggressive at all while the roo I raised (about a year-and-a-couple-months old now) turned out to be very aggressive. He 99% of the time bites my foot and sometimes my hands if I reach out to him. So, I put him in a cage and he's been there for a few months now.. I thought it was an issue with him not mating/having any hens so I was planning to get him a few chickens but the coronavirus hit and I've been in quarantine since then.
And recently, he started eating a LOT less (his crop has been empty for two days and he is skinny) even though I provide him a wide variety of foods everyday (fresh fruits, veggies and the normal feed). He doesn't show signs of illness though and I clean his cage often. Whenever I let him out for a little bit he sometimes shakes his head and flaps his wings, though quite energetic and keeps running around and pecking at paint.
What could the issue be? Could he possibly be depressed from the isolation/need to mate? I have no idea what to do with him at this point. I can't get him hens or a bigger place since corona hit, if that's the issue. And I'm very emotionally attached to him since I grew him up since he was a little chick; so culling isn't an option. It hurts me so much to see him like this.
TL;DR: Aggressive rooster who bites a lot & is isolated/alone/probably needs to mate. What can I do to stop this behaviour other than culling because I'm emotionally attached to him?
Please help. Thank you in advance.
So the situation is as follows: I got a few day old chicks from a local farmer and only one of them survived. Turns out that one is a rooster (a white, factory meat one), and here comes the issue: I already have a small flock (5 chickens and one roo) and obviously, the roosters don't get along AT ALL. Consequently, I separated them immediately.
The flock roo is very kind, submissive and not aggressive at all while the roo I raised (about a year-and-a-couple-months old now) turned out to be very aggressive. He 99% of the time bites my foot and sometimes my hands if I reach out to him. So, I put him in a cage and he's been there for a few months now.. I thought it was an issue with him not mating/having any hens so I was planning to get him a few chickens but the coronavirus hit and I've been in quarantine since then.
And recently, he started eating a LOT less (his crop has been empty for two days and he is skinny) even though I provide him a wide variety of foods everyday (fresh fruits, veggies and the normal feed). He doesn't show signs of illness though and I clean his cage often. Whenever I let him out for a little bit he sometimes shakes his head and flaps his wings, though quite energetic and keeps running around and pecking at paint.
What could the issue be? Could he possibly be depressed from the isolation/need to mate? I have no idea what to do with him at this point. I can't get him hens or a bigger place since corona hit, if that's the issue. And I'm very emotionally attached to him since I grew him up since he was a little chick; so culling isn't an option. It hurts me so much to see him like this.
TL;DR: Aggressive rooster who bites a lot & is isolated/alone/probably needs to mate. What can I do to stop this behaviour other than culling because I'm emotionally attached to him?
Please help. Thank you in advance.
