We had a horribly wet summer, I thought my chickens would turn to ducks with all the flooding. Which is why we decided to free range them, to let the out of the wet coop/run. We live in the backwoods swamps of Central Florida, so we have all sorts of wild animals running around that could, and do, pose a problem for my chickens, which is why I wasn't really excited about ranging them. Though, we haven't had any problems with wild animals since we started letting them out during the day, they are happier, fatter, and more social than before. The only problems I actually have with it is that there is poop on my front porch, and my non-dom Roo is roosting on the corner of my porch. Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with it, but he just seems so lonely around bed time. I've taken to calling him Scritch, for some unknown reason. He loves his comb and right under his eyes scratched and he sits with me when I'm on the porch throwing treats to the rest of the flock. He also walks around the yard with the flock, including The-Winged-BHole, the dominant roo. His bed time routine: Come to the porch Cluck until my husband or I come outside Look at me Look at husband Cluck for 17 years* Walk around Jump around Sit in my lap Sit in the chair Cluck for another 17 years* Go to his roost Come back to me and make the most pittiful sound I've ever heard from a rooster I've found myself sitting out there with him for hour or so after the sun has went down and he starts snoring(not really), he'll wake up a few times to make sure I'm still there. I'm besides myself with the sads because he doesn't have anyone to roost with him. TWB must have kicked him out of the coop, which doesn't make since because they get along so well outside of it, all day long. I don't really mind having a pet chicken, it's what started my flock in the first place, I just don't want to have a lonely pet chicken. So, I was wondering if there was a way to get him some hens? I am willing to go out and buy the best looking, most docile hens I can find for Scritch, if it would give him some bed time friends. And, if there is, how would I keep TWB from stealing them? I've already considered bringing Scritch inside everynight, but the husband and resident demon cat have both vetoed that idea. Thanks in advance! *17 years is an exaggeration, he just clucks for a REALLY long time*
If he really was lonely he, he would sleep with the rest of the flock. You didn't say how many hens you have so I can only say that with a small flock of less then a dozen the dominate rooster will take most if not all of them. Besides if your porch rooster does get a few, will he teach them to roost on the porch with him? Do you want that? Think of the mess. Think of the fact that with more chickens there it will add to the likelihood of some predator finding them.
Your non-dominant rooster is roosting on the porch because you are providing him with company (you're his flock). Don't feed into that unless you want him to continue. Is it possible to lock him in the run with the others, or is there bloodshed? It sounds like you could easily catch him and put him in the coop. Unless you have a large number of hens (as in more than a dozen), then the dominant roo will take the hens for his harem. More than that, it's possible he'd have his own, but yes, they would probably roost with him on the porch. I love my chickens, but I would not want all that poop on my porch either! In fact, I have two hens that roost in the rafters of the barn, which is fine, unless they are over my husband's farm equipment. He's not too happy with chicken poop all over his John Deere! By the way - I had to laugh at your name for your dominant roo! The winged ******** sounds appropriate! I had one I called something similar, but I can't print it here!
The dominant rooster has them all. Including the two roos, I have 14 chickens, 3 of which are banties that don't listen to either of the roosters and don't roost with the rest of the flock. When it starts getting dark, he comes to the porch, which I don't really have an issue with, most of the poop is in his corner anyway and a hose works fine to keep it clean. The idea that he is lonely just doesn't sit well with me. I did lock him in the coop with the rest of the flock, but he kept looking for a way out. I originally tried not to have any contact with him, we didn't even know he was roosting on the porch until we came home late one evening and there he was, fussing because we woke him up. After we found out, we tried leaving the porch light on to deter him from roosting there, he might not be dominant, but he sure is stubborn. So, I'm guessing the only way to keep him from being 'lonely' is to get more hens, but that would only lead to more of a mess on my porch and more of a chance of a predator finding him, and I don't want either of those. I just feel so helpless, he really is a sweet guy! Also, his name isn't as PG as I managed to put here, TWB's name is actually more.... obscene.
He does hang around the flock during the day as you said. So I doubt that he is really lonely during the time he is unconscious sleeping.on the porch, he just has a different bedroom.
Lock everybody in the coop and run for a few days for retraining. He will get over trying to find a way out,He just hates change but if your going to keep chickens things like this will come up from time to time. You can't talk to him him so you have to show him where to sleep and after a few days sleeping in the coop will be a new habit. as long as the dominate roo isn't picking on him it will be fine.
