I hope I didn't make a mistake sending my roo to a new home :(

[littleflocker]

I took him to his new home last night and this morning my girls are acting weird, like lethargic and my little girl, the most loyal to the roo growled at me this morning and it seems like the flock doesn't want to all come running out together when I go out there. I've been crying all morning and having second thoughts considering going back and getting him. What should I do?????? My seven six month old hens were all raised with him and I feel like I hurt the flock. Has anyone removed the rooster and had trouble? I don't know if my hens will be as happy as they were with him in the flock.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Can you not have a rooster where you live? Why did you re-home him? A solitary rooster is normally head of the flock. When he is taken away after the chicken hierarchy is establish, the flock has lost its leader and aren't quite sure what to do. Unless there was some major reason for re-homing him. I would ask for him back.

 

[littleflocker]

very wakes up the neighbor is one reason. My neighbor was as respectful as you could be when he asked why we had a rooster, he didn't say or suggest we get rid of him, but he works long hours as an emt and I know what it is like to need sleep. The other is he is a bantam and all of the girls are large breed and it seems awkward when he jumps on them to where he grabs their neck feathers and pulls them back so far it practically stretches their face over their eyes. There must be a way to keep him quiet when the light comes on at 12:30am and the flock piles out of the coop. He really only crowed in the early morning when I would flush the toilet or put wood in the stove. I wonder if I eliminated the light now if the hens would molt? Then they would maybe sleep in until sunrise.

 

[1muttsfan]

Your hens will quickly adjust to not having the main man around, don't worry.

 

[littleflocker]

Quote:
thanks it is harder than I thought

 

[bobbieschicks]

Don't worry chickens are resilent and will quickly adapt. Better to have good relations with your neighbors.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
This. And once the flock dynamics are readjusted, your chickens will be fine.

 

[Tressa27884]

I've had roosters coming and going in and out of my flock for the last several months [trying to find a roo that made everybody happy]. My girls favorite roo was a nasty bugger to my kids and had to go, then my favorite roo started crowing at three AM and wouldn't stop, the next was beating up my hens. I now have two boys that everybody [hens included] are happy with. It does take some time for everybody to transition into the "new" pecking order - but it DOES settle down.

I tried everything to keep the noisy roo from crowing all night, I had him in a seperate pen under a tarp, I even had him in my garage on a roost where I knew I could control the light. I swear that boy crowed in his sleep. He was in total darkness and still started in the middle of the night. While I know it's hard to adjust to a new flock order - it is better to have a good relationship with your neighbor, and the girls will adjust.

T

 

[Fred's Hens]

The boss hen will take his place in no time.

 

[un-named]

The hens will need a little time to adjust but will be just fine. Should we all be so lucky to have a neighbor like you who really cares about good relationships. Making sure an EMT gets sound sleep, well you are helping many of your fellow mankind too!