How to help small flock cope with loss of flockmate.

[Chocobo]

I have (4) ten week old chickens and just found out that one of them is a roo when he started crowing. One my favourites too

.
So off he goes to a new home leaving just three.
I know they will get over losing their flockmate but I have also read that the sudden disappearance/death of one of their own can cause a lot of stress and with the heat index at 108 here I want to minimize as much stress as possible.
What can I do to help them out once their brother goes away.

 

[Mamahalo]

Hey I didn't realize that may happen, I just shipped off the head Roo tonite... leaving a sub Roo and 2 ladies.
I'm also interested to hear what other BYCrs suggest! Bump!

 

[suzettex5]

At 10 weeks old and sexually immature, I doubt the flock will notice the change much, if at all. Adding a new bird to the mix could be an option, but potentially could be more upsetting as it would be more likely to upset the current flock order (as young and immature as it is at this point).

You could just add an extra treat like a cauliflower head into the pen when you remove the roo to occupy their minds and distract them for awhile.

If you decide to replace him with another hen/pullet, still be very careful and practice bio-security by keeping the newbie away from your 10 weekers for at least 14 days to be sure it isnt sick or infectious.


Oh, and Im sorry you got an unwanted roo! Seems its always our favorites that turn out to be roos or get sick or something...

 

[real_redhead]

I just rehomed my roo today and my 4 girls are about 14 - 15 weeks old (I think) and was worried about them being upset. When the roo was put in the carrier to be taken away one of the girls came over and started chirping. I felt so bad and am hoping they will be ok...first run with chickens and want to make sure they are ok..Did give them some special treats. Anything I need to look out for?

 

[This_chicks_place]

I had 5 out of 10 chicks turn out to be roos. One at a time they have been sold or sent to freezer camp, the most recent being last week at 20 weeks old. I slipped him out of the coop at night because he was Mr. Nasty (and the top roo) during the day and I didn't want to get hurt. Next morning, the ladies and the remaining roo all seemed just fine and actually less stressed. two of the hen's who were Mr. Nasty's favorites, normally would not allow the second roo any where near them, actually seemed to call the remaining roo over to do his thing.

All is fine in our hen house! And your girls should all be just fine!

 

[NonnasBabies]

I've sold many of birds and never noticed the others acting any differently!!

 

[nanawendy]

I have surly seen changes when we had to take a bird out for whatever reason, illness, roo-ness etc. I do think they mourn ... and have been slam-blasted for saying it by a few on BYC. but most agree there are changes in the flock when one exits. There is nothing I could do but give extra treats and TLC...

 

[flickerloo]

I pulled two hens out (I have six total) last night and put them in a broody-breaker cage in my basement. This morning, my four remaining hens, especially the head hen, are going crazy, calling out and making a huge amount of distressed racket. They definitely miss their flockmates!

 

[realsis]

I've had to go through this myself with re homing roosters.its always difficult for every one. My flock is silkies and it's very difficult to tell sex on them so now after having to re home so many roosters I pay for DNA sex testing before I bring them home. Most breeders go along with it as its a simple process. I pay ten dollars per test and they simply pluck the feather out and send the feather to the lab for DNA.i purchase the females and they sell the males as straight run. I pay so it's really not a problem for most to do. Last batch of babies I tested six and ended with with three females. The breeder benefits as well by knowing the sex of the other birds. This is the only way I'll buy now because I can't have roos either and after re homing so many it's so much easier to DNA test before hand especially with silkies! One breeder I often use offers the dna test as a standard. I like that. You might consider doing a dna next time so you don't have to go through the re homing process again. It saves a lot of heart ache . I'm not sure the breeds your dealing with but for silkies it's especially helpful. I really hope this helps and I'm sure your girls will be fine. It will just take a bit for them to over come the loss. But they should be just fine.