House Rooster

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MilesFluffybutt

MilesFluffybutt

Crowing
8 Years
Nov 16, 2016
707
1,440
281
Vermont
Hello wonderful BYC community,

Several months ago I rescued a days-old cross-break chick, figuring it'd be hospice care. Well, I must have done something right because the little guy is still with me and doing well despite his beak, his kinked neck and a host of other maladies. He even eats on his own, provided his food has has an oatmeal texture to it.

So, with winter upon us, I'm wondering how I can keep him healthy and entertained this season. I live in northern Vermont where the temperatures can and do stay 20 below weeks at a time and the snow piles up to six feet.

I figure I'll need a bin for him to dust in and some sprouted greens for him forage in, but beyond that I'm not sure what else I should do.

Thank you so much!

68280293_795529362194_1546435200064421888_n.jpg
 
So long as the bowls are deep enough and his food is the right consistency - think thick oatmeal - he eats by himself. It takes him an hour, but he fill his crop up like any other chicken. He uses his tongue, through his bottom lip, to lick the sticky food from the inside of his beak and direct it somehow into his mouth. (kind of like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3_S74hgdlu/)

He does not live with other chickens because I only have a rooster flock. He has 'met' them - he'll stand a few feet away from their enclosure and watch them, and he does crow back at them. They'd kill him so he lives in my house and is besties with my 100lb rottie and frenemies with the cat.
 
MilesFluffybutt said:
Hello wonderful BYC community,

Several months ago I rescued a days-old cross-break chick, figuring it'd be hospice care. Well, I must have done something right because the little guy is still with me and doing well despite his beak, his kinked neck and a host of other maladies. He even eats on his own, provided his food has has an oatmeal texture to it.

So, with winter upon us, I'm wondering how I can keep him healthy and entertained this season. I live in northern Vermont where the temperatures can and do stay 20 below weeks at a time and the snow piles up to six feet.

I figure I'll need a bin for him to dust in and some sprouted greens for him forage in, but beyond that I'm not sure what else I should do.

Thank you so much!

View attachment 1941730
Click to expand...

I'm no help but I just had to stop by, say hello, and tell you that you are amazing! He looks happy and healthy in spite of this and that's all thanks to you. I hope you realize how special you are. He is a lucky bird and quite handsome! :thumbsup
 
You are my kind of person, for sure! Your last post sounds like something I would have written. I can't stand the thought of anything dying under attack and/or alone (which explains a goat who lived in the house some years ago during a long, long recovery).

I have a house chicken right now because all the chicks at the store were broilers except one tiny unknown-breed layer. She spent her days hiding under the waterer so the larger others wouldn't attack her. The store actually GAVE her to me to keep her safe.

I am still not sure how to break the news to her that she -- unlike your adorable boy -- is a perfectly healthy CHICKEN, not a parakeet. (Although I have taught her to "perch" on my arm on command). She is finally fully feathered, but temps are dipping into the low 30's at night, so I haven't put her into one of the coops yet. Plus, I usually let the chickens "choose" their own roommates, and no one's spent time with her yet.

Bless you for taking care of him, and congrats on integrating him into the family. My cat lives in total fear of the chicken. She pecks him in the face, and he runs for his life. And, she doesn't really eat his cat food, but she does scratch through his dish and keep him out of it.
 
Hi, there,@MilesFluffybutt !

First: bravo to you! This guy is super cute! I hope he's doing well. This is kind of an old thread, so I don't know if you'll see this. But I find myself with the possibility of having a house rooster. I have 2 questions for you:

1) Got any advice for keeping a house roo?

2) How much crowing does your guy do?

Thanks!!!
 
Hi @Aunt Angus,

Much to my surprise and delight, my boy is doing very well. He's been with me for just over a year now. It's been quite the adventure so here's what I learned.

- Invest in a good diaper, especially if he's going to have free run of the house. We tried a few different ones, but had the most success with sizing and fit with a set from Avian Fashions.

- Prepare for dander. I thought it was just one chicken, how must much dander can one chicken generate? Between the dog, the chicken, and a long winter, the answer is a lot. I invested in a decent air purifier to handle it.

- He's going to roost anything and everything. Hawke roosts on my computer monitor and the back of my computer chair. I tried to make him a perch, but he just wasn't having it.

- He will likely mate with things. My guy mates with my dog's foot and all of her stuffed animals. It's pretty funny.

- He still needs to go outside for sun, dusting, mental stimulation. My guy sticks to the front yard where I can see him and he responds to his name. He has better recall then my dog. LOL.

Regarding crowing, it really depends on the breed and personality. My guy is on the quieter, mellower side. He really only crows when he hears something - when the dog barks, when the roommate comes home after work and it's dark out. I'm usually up before he is. If I'm not he'll jump down from his perch, stand on my chest and stare at me until I make him some breakfast.

I've really enjoyed having him around. And he keeps my dog company when I'm not home.

Tell me about you potential house rooster.
 

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