De-segregating roo - adding to flock.

[Smorz]

My roo has been segregated for a week now in his own mini coop. I would like to let him out today. A couple of concerns: How will he know when to go into the main coop at night? Is a week long enough for him to return to his little coop if he doesn't go in the main coop? If fighting ensues, should I separate again? Thanks!

 

[Den in Penn]

If he was in the main coop before he will most likely follow the hens back there. As to what to do if fighting ensues I don't know what the fighting was before, was it bloody, was it between the rooster and hen(s), or was it another rooster. If there is no blood shed, leave it go, they have to resolve it themselves.

 

[Smorz]

My roo has been segregated for a week now in his own mini coop....

Not in the main coop...

 

[Den in Penn]

Was he living in the main coop before his segregation? With the rest of the flock there? I know we talk about imprinting a new home on them by locking them in the new coop for a week. But other factors are at work. One the remembrance of the old home especially in the case where the old is still there. Young chicks in a new coop won't usually have their brooder in sight so the imprinting is more effective with them. If they were part of a flock be for separation, then they will try to rejoin that flock after a period of only a week or even three in the case of a broody with a nest away from the flock. And in a roosters case the desire to be with the hens. So even if the chicken, rooster in your case, was out of sight and hearing of the flock for that week, I believe he will go back to the main coop. But as always they do have a mind of their own, even if it is the size of a walnut.

 

[aart]

More info needed......
Why did you segregate him?
What ages and numbers of other birds are living in the main coop?

 

[Smorz]

More info needed......
Why did you segregate him?
What ages and numbers of other birds are living in the main coop?

This was a rooster I gave to my dad about a year ago. He no longer wants him, so I'm taking him back. There are 50 other birds in my flock. 16 are of the roo's previous flock, but I know that doesn't matter any more. They are about a year old. The rest are 2 months old and still being segregated in the runs, and slowly integrating (being allowed out to free range some) with the 16 - except for 12 keets, who will remain fully segregated for another month before they are allowed to free range. (And then I get to take a big sigh!)

 

[aart]

If he's the only cock, it shouldn't be a problem...if there are other cocks, who knows what will happen<shrug>

 

[Selsley]

we have 2 cocks a bantam and an araucana (part of a trio) and they get along fine after the initial fight when the resident bantam tried to take on the new one, after a bit off footwork and a bit of chasing, their order was set, now the bantam is trying to mount all the hens and the araucana doesnt mind at all, we also have one bantam hen who is usually led and accompanied by the cock when she lays in the coop.

the araucana hens were a bit bare back when we got them and since we had them one has got worse, i can now see the joint in her wing, and she is also losing neck feathers. we think it maybe due to the bantam holding on for dear life, although the araucana holds on to the neck feathers too, it seems a less stressful process for the hens due to his increased size and ability to actually complete the deed.
we have run a fence the length of the back garden where the chickens are and i built a 2'x2' roosting box on legs with perch. the fence has 50mm x 100mm gaps which seems to stop the bantan cock getting through but not the hen, which for us is ok since the araucana does not bother her.

the idea is to move them into this area for the duration of the summer and allow 1 day a week access to the hens, then put them back in. then when winter comes allow them back in the coop, hopefully by then the hens will have molted and grown back their feathers. anyone got any thoughts on this?

 

[Den in Penn]

we have 2 cocks a bantam and an araucana (part of a trio) and they get along fine after the initial fight when the resident bantam tried to take on the new one, after a bit off footwork and a bit of chasing, their order was set, now the bantam is trying to mount all the hens and the araucana doesnt mind at all, we also have one bantam hen who is usually led and accompanied by the cock when she lays in the coop.

the araucana hens were a bit bare back when we got them and since we had them one has got worse, i can now see the joint in her wing, and she is also losing neck feathers. we think it maybe due to the bantam holding on for dear life, although the araucana holds on to the neck feathers too, it seems a less stressful process for the hens due to his increased size and ability to actually complete the deed.
we have run a fence the length of the back garden where the chickens are and i built a 2'x2' roosting box on legs with perch. the fence has 50mm x 100mm gaps which seems to stop the bantan cock getting through but not the hen, which for us is ok since the araucana does not bother her.

the idea is to move them into this area for the duration of the summer and allow 1 day a week access to the hens, then put them back in. then when winter comes allow them back in the coop, hopefully by then the hens will have molted and grown back their feathers. anyone got any thoughts on this?

How many hens do you have for the roosters?

 

[aart]

we have 2 cocks a bantam and an araucana (part of a trio)

BTW....A 'trio' is usually 1 cock/erel and 2 pullets/hens of the same breed.