Behaviors of a rescued rooster

[MaeM]

I'm temporarily taking care of a rescued rooster who's been through some sh*t. He has some scars, a missing wattle, a red butt... And his rescuers told me that he was kept in a small cage most of the time.

Anyway, I brought him home two weeks ago and, at first, he crowed all day long, but once I was able to get close to him and pet him, he started following me around.

Now he tries to get into the house almost all the time. I allowed him to come in, jusst to see what happens, and he just roosts on a chair, preens himself/relaxes next to me, and then goes out to the backyard again. He forages a bit and then comes back to the house.

It's like he wants to be around me (or my boyfriend, when I'm not at home). I wonder if this means that he feels lonely and looks for human companionship because there are no other birds?

Luckily I work remotely and I can be around him most of the time during weekdays, but I wonder if this will work out long-term (I haven't adopted him officially but even finding a good family for him, with enough hens, can take some time around here).

 

[TOMTE]

I'm sure he's pretty lonely, and sees you and your boyfriend as his stand-in flock.

Rehoming a roo is hard because most people don't want one. Plus, not knowing his history with other chickens, he could turn out to be aggressive toward other birds. A human friendly roo can make a good pet but most people aren't looking for a pet rooster, which is a shame, because I'd take one in a heartbeat, if I could

If you're planning on rehoming him and care about how he ends up I'd be prepared to vet his future home really hard, because otherwise he's probably going to end up as a meal (the fate of most roos) or maybe even bait for other roos or fighting dogs.

Have you looked up if there are any farm rescues nearby? Some people will take in unwanted farm animals and give them a happy rest of their life.

If you're planning on keeping him, this article is a must read:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[MaeM]

Thank you for your answer.

After being rescued, he was actually in a shelter for a very short time because he over-mated the hens. The people from this shelter offered this rooster to me because he was hurting the hens (some of whom where already hurt or disabled).

I'm honestly not surprised. He has very bright feathers and I was told that means he has high testosterone. Moreover, he's pretty young (apparently about 1 year old).

But that's the thing - I don't have the space, the time, and the energy to have a large flock. I talked about it with my boyfriend and we can only afford 2-3 hens, but that would not be enough for this guy. So it's either keeping him as a single (pet) chicken or giving him to someone with at least 6 hens IMO (someone who will not cull him).

And I don't know what to do. I kinda want to keep him, but we've always said here that keeping a single chicken on purpose is kind of cruel because they're social animals.

 

[TOMTE]

Thank you for your answer.

After being rescued, he was actually in a shelter for a very short time because he over-mated the hens. The people from this shelter offered this rooster to me because he was hurting the hens (some of whom where already hurt or disabled).

I'm honestly not surprised. He has very bright feathers and I was told that means he has high testosterone. Moreover, he's pretty young (apparently about 1 year old).

But that's the thing - I don't have the space, the time, and the energy to have a large flock. I talked about it with my boyfriend and we could only afford 2-3 hens, but that would not be enough for this guy. So it's either keeping him as a single (pet) chicken or giving him to someone with at least 6 hens IMO (someone who will not cull him).

And I don't know what to do. I kinda want to keep him, but we've always said here that keeping a single chicken on purpose is kind of cruel because they're social animals.

If he wasn't around older hens who would thump him for being a hormonal idiot as a youngster, he might never learn to be a gentlerooster, even with enough hens for him to focus his attention on. The problem is, a roo will typically pick his favorite 3 or 4 hens and pay the most attention to them while all but ignoring the others. If they aren't strong/fast/confident enough to resist unwanted advances, he'll still end up overbreeding them.

The issue of having one chicken as a pet is nuanced. It's true that chickens are social animals and that generally they need a flock to thrive. But there are special cases where a single chicken is perfectly happy as a pet if they have all their needs met otherwise. If he seems happy and comfortable enough with you as his "flock", if he's otherwise acting like a healthy roo, I wouldn't feel guilty about it. It might be what's best for him, in the end.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

The issue of having one chicken as a pet is nuanced. It's true that chickens are social animals and that generally they need a flock to thrive. But there are special cases where a single chicken is perfectly happy as a pet if they have all their needs met otherwise. If he seems happy and comfortable enough with you as his "flock", if he's otherwise acting like a healthy roo, I wouldn't feel guilty about it. It might be what's best for him, in the end.

I agree.

 

[MaeM]

How do I know if having him as a pet is actually working?

I mean, he looks quite happy now, he dust bathes, he forages... but at the same time, he's too clingy. He crows until I let him out of the coop/run and then he doesn't want to go back there to sleep. He wants to stay with us.

Yesterday, we took him out of the house and he climbed to the kitchen's window and tried to sleep on the frame. I don't know how healthy is that or what he's going to do if we ever go to a trip (we don't travel often but once in a while we may be away 3-4 days. We have someone to feed him but we won't be there to provide continuous company).

 

[TOMTE]

How do I know if having him as a pet is actually working?

I mean, he looks quite happy now, he dust bathes, he forages... but at the same time, he's too clingy. He crows until I let him out of the coop/run and then he doesn't want to go back there to sleep. He wants to stay with us.

Yesterday, we took him out of the house and he climbed to the kitchen's window and tried to sleep on the frame. I don't know how healthy is that or what he's going to do if we ever go to a trip (we don't travel often but once in a while we may be away 3-4 days. We have someone to feed him but we won't be there to provide continuous company).

Of course he wants to stay with you! You're his hen(s)! As far as he knows, you need his constant supervision and protection. That's just how he's wired, as a roo.

He might calm down a little as he settles in and gets more comfortable. I'll bet right now he's extra clingly and vigilant because he's in a new place, with a new flock, and he's probably got a little anxiety. Give him a few weeks and see how he is then.

@featherhead007 is basically the rooster whisperer. He's had plenty of semi-house chickens, including roos. He might be willing to give you a few pointers

 

[featherhead007]

Of course he wants to stay with you! You're his hen(s)! As far as he knows, you need his constant supervision and protection. That's just how he's wired, as a roo.

He might calm down a little as he settles in and gets more comfortable. I'll bet right now he's extra clingly and vigilant because he's in a new place, with a new flock, and he's probably got a little anxiety. Give him a few weeks and see how he is then.

@featherhead007 is basically the rooster whisperer. He's had plenty of semi-house chickens, including roos. He might be willing to give you a few pointers

Yeah sure, we can go beak to beak anytime!

 

[featherhead007]

How do I know if having him as a pet is actually working?

I mean, he looks quite happy now, he dust bathes, he forages... but at the same time, he's too clingy. He crows until I let him out of the coop/run and then he doesn't want to go back there to sleep. He wants to stay with us.

Yesterday, we took him out of the house and he climbed to the kitchen's window and tried to sleep on the frame. I don't know how healthy is that or what he's going to do if we ever go to a trip (we don't travel often but once in a while we may be away 3-4 days. We have someone to feed him but we won't be there to provide continuous company).

He has decided to be a house pet, like my Dakota has. I get chicken poop everywhere, and in the strangest of places!

 

[MaeM]

Guess I will have to make him a true diaper, then!

I'm kind of confused because I knew house chickens existed, but I always wanted to keep mine outside because "that's their nature". But this one just refuses to give me space he even pecks at me when I'm not paying attention to him!