FREAKING OUT- gift I didn't want!

[annmarie]

I have a friend who's raised chickens for years and makes a point of keeping a bantam rooster with his standard hens. I never knew why until he explained that a bantam rooster is more economical because he'll eat less, he's not so rough on the hens as a standard, and he'll be just as protective of the girls when they're free-ranging. Which then led me to wonder "

why don't I have a bantam rooster?"

 

[skand]

anyone want to trade me my big boi for a bantam? He's spoiled and everything else already!

 

[M@M@2four]

Hello! We have a bantam roo that free ranges with all our hens...I have specific breeds separated in pens for breeding purposes, but have many that just free range and we have the sweetest little bantam roo in that flock! He is just a doll!!! We named him, "Washington" because we got him for a dollar at an auction.

Nobody bid on him, so my hubby felt sorry for him and bought him! We have had him for well over 6 months and he is just a cutie! We have other roos as well and they all just know their place, so fighting is VERY rare.

One thing though...we also own several pairs of bantams and most of them are separated in their own cages. You could always just keep them in teheir own pen/cage...sorry you're so stressed! Your neighbor probably thought he was doing something nice! lol I know we had someone try and "give" us chickens...we just had to politely tell them, we were all filled up!

lol Good luck!

 

[Smoky73]

You would have to leave eggs outside for at least a week before finding anything that might resemble a chick

So if you collect every day, and put right into the fridge, you will have nothing to worry about.

 

[Yardegg]

Is there a benifit to having a rooster in the hen house?????

There certainly is; especially from the rooster's point of view.

Yardegg​

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
And a hen would have to be setting on the egg 24/7, incubating it, or it would not develop. They don't start to grow just at normal temps. Incubators are set around 99.5F. They can start to slowly develop a bit cooler than that, but it wouldn't happen in one day, or even a couple of days.

 

[black_dove2]

My two pullets were a gift as well. I wasn't quite ready and I only wanted one. Friend and salesgirl convinced me how much hens need to flock. So...

Sadly one of my friends two died. Funny how life works out.

I understand completely about more work. I was on occasion already feeling a little overwhelmed with four dogs. But I was with my friend and didn't say no. Mine were a someday soon wish.

Good luck whatever your decision is to keep or not. Building another coop might too much for you at this time. I was glad to read all response to you post so I'll have something to think about if my friend shows up with her one remaining hen.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a different take on this situation. While this neighbor meant well, if he'd shown up in my yard bearing such a gift, I'd have not let him out of his vehicle. I'd smile, and ask him what he's going to do with his new chickens. I keep a closed flock and would not allow those birds onto my property. They may be beautiful little bantams. But they also may bring extra gifts with them: mites, lice, and perhaps any number of diseases that once they get a toe hold in a flock are lethal, and forever, being carried forward from today until the day you cull your entire flock. End of story.

(not to mention that I have very little use for bantams.)

 

[keesmom]

I'm sure the OP has decided what to do with the bantams. The thread was started almost 9 years ago.

 

[Hamiam]

I'm sure the OP has decided what to do with the bantams. The thread was started almost 9 years ago.

So funny! I didn't look at the date either. Read the thread from start to finish!