First time chicken mom by accident

KyraLivingston

Chirping
Jul 14, 2024
9
116
61
Arcadia, FL
Hello All, my wife and I are first time chicken moms, by accident. We live in a very rural community in FL. Everyone has chickens, goats, cows, and all the things. One day we were hoping to have chickens and that day came sooner than we thought. One morning, I walked outside and yelled Honey, there’s a rooster sleeping under my car. We let him be as many people don’t have fenced in yards and give a whole new meaning to free range. We figured he would go back to where he came from and that would be that. After about a week, 3 attempted dog attacks and a few, the chicken never made it to the other side of the road, he’s now in a 10x7 pen on the side of our house and sleeps in a child’s play barn i fill with hay that I found on the side of the road. A friend of ours told us he may be an older boy, his name is Henry. According to google, I think he may be a Lavender Orpington. I have ALL the questions but currently would appreciate any basic tips, tricks, or advice on how to care for our big boy. Super excited to be here and learn from this amazing chicken community.
 

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Welcome to BYC and congratulations on your rooster! He is a very pretty boy. I agree that he looks like a lavender Orpington. Are you thinking about getting him some hens?

The most important immediate concern will be making sure he is safe from predators at night. Free-roaming chickens often roost in trees, though the safest thing will be for him to stay inside a secure coop at night.
 
Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad that you have joined this poultry loving community. My wife has roots in your neck of the woods. Her grandfather lived there many decades ago and her dad and aunt were raised there. My wife and I grew up about 35 miles north of you and migrated north a few years back. I do hope Charley has no decedents that want to visit Arcadia ever again. :)
 
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Welcome to BYC and congratulations on your rooster! He is a very pretty boy. I agree that he looks like a lavender Orpington. Are you thinking about getting him some hens?

The most important immediate concern will be making sure he is safe from predators at night. Free-roaming chickens often roost in trees, though the safest thing will be for him to stay inside a secure coop at night.
Thank you 😊 Eventually we would like to get a few hens. We first want to gain as much knowledge before we start adding since he just fell into our laps. He stays in a 10x7 coop and sleeps in the play barn I found. When he goes to bed I close the door behind him and let him out in the am. We only let him free range in our fenced in backyard during the day when we are working in the back yard to keep an eye on him.
 
He is very handsome!!!

I wonder if someone dumped him? They don't usually just walk off.
It a common thing in our rural area. :(

I'm glad he has a new home.

Start searching chicken care articles and threads. There are lots of ideas here!
Thank you 😊 and that’s so sad people do that. That is a high possibility here. I will definitely check that out thank you.
 

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