I need a rooster!

Pics
Date sort Score sort
I-Love-Pallets said:
First, thank you to everyone for all of your input! I totally agree with the onus of protection being on the human. I am really fortunate that I have a lot of cover and I’m amazed at the girls’ instincts in running for cover anytime they sense danger. But I also believe the roosters are more “on the alert” and just hoping they can be my second set of eyes.

I did find what I believe will be a good option from someone in my area who raises show roosters. She had a 2 1/2 month old Favorelle whose dad is absolutely beautiful. He is just about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to introduce him to the flock with totally supervised visits. I’ll also let him free range inside my garden fence so he and the flock can get used to seeing each other.

I hope and pray I make all the right decisions. There’s certainly a lot more to consider than I realized before I posted my original question. And maybe I should have waited until spring like 3KillerBs said but I’ve already picked up the rooster. Wish me luck?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Good luck! Everything tends to fall in place, then let the shenanigans begin! I currently have three cockerels I’m partial to (20 wks) with 21 Pullets and atleast 4 more younger cockerels. They have been raised together since birth. I’m hoping I can keep two of them for my flock, every day I’m waiting for a sign from them to see who will have to move on ☹️
 
Just an update…so Big Chungus is now almost 15 weeks old. For over two months I kept him separated from the girls, as he seemed so scared of them, and they tormented him unmercifully. I would let him out to free range at the same time, and after tearing my garden down, they would all be in there together. He had plenty of space to run and get away from them, but a lot of times he would find a corner and nose dive into it. Mostly they would lose interest very quickly. About 6 weeks ago, I set him up with a big box in my shed, complete with a roosting bar, and he would sleep there at night. During the day, I kept him in a dog kennel inside the run. About a month ago, I started putting him in the coop at night, and he would sleep in one of the nesting boxes. In the morning, he would still be there while they were all milling around, waiting to be let out. I would keep him in the run, and keep an eye on them, only putting him in the dog kennel when they started bullying him to the point he would dive in a corner. Two weeks ago, a couple of Olive Eggers had gotten him cornered, and were pecking almost gently at his back. At first I thought maybe they were trying to get bugs or something, but then I walked around the run and saw the blood on his feathers. They had pecked a spot about the size of a penny until it was bleeding. I immediately let him out in the yard, and went to work on the coop/run in the pic. He’s been sleeping there every night, and staying in the little run until I let them all out for a couple of hours later in the day. He gravitates toward the group, but any time one starts to wander close, even if they obviously aren’t interested in him, he quickly runs away from them.

I apologize for the lengthy post, but I’m starting to worry a little about how long I’ll still need to keep him separated. I know chickens can take low temps, and he’s been fine so far…17 degrees last night. But I just don’t know if there’s anything else I can do to “hurry” things along. He still hasn’t started crowing, and I’m thinking it’s because he’s still intimidated. Will he be fine staying in his little coop, even in the coldest temps? SW Ohio does get as low as zero-ish during the coldest part of the winter. I’ve heard chickens can easily take temps as low as -20…just not sure I want to test that!
319CF335-12B6-4810-B893-C70E15E50246.jpeg
 
I-Love-Pallets said:
Just an update…so Big Chungus is now almost 15 weeks old. For over two months I kept him separated from the girls, as he seemed so scared of them, and they tormented him unmercifully. I would let him out to free range at the same time, and after tearing my garden down, they would all be in there together. He had plenty of space to run and get away from them, but a lot of times he would find a corner and nose dive into it. Mostly they would lose interest very quickly. About 6 weeks ago, I set him up with a big box in my shed, complete with a roosting bar, and he would sleep there at night. During the day, I kept him in a dog kennel inside the run. About a month ago, I started putting him in the coop at night, and he would sleep in one of the nesting boxes. In the morning, he would still be there while they were all milling around, waiting to be let out. I would keep him in the run, and keep an eye on them, only putting him in the dog kennel when they started bullying him to the point he would dive in a corner. Two weeks ago, a couple of Olive Eggers had gotten him cornered, and were pecking almost gently at his back. At first I thought maybe they were trying to get bugs or something, but then I walked around the run and saw the blood on his feathers. They had pecked a spot about the size of a penny until it was bleeding. I immediately let him out in the yard, and went to work on the coop/run in the pic. He’s been sleeping there every night, and staying in the little run until I let them all out for a couple of hours later in the day. He gravitates toward the group, but any time one starts to wander close, even if they obviously aren’t interested in him, he quickly runs away from them.

I apologize for the lengthy post, but I’m starting to worry a little about how long I’ll still need to keep him separated. I know chickens can take low temps, and he’s been fine so far…17 degrees last night. But I just don’t know if there’s anything else I can do to “hurry” things along. He still hasn’t started crowing, and I’m thinking it’s because he’s still intimidated. Will he be fine staying in his little coop, even in the coldest temps? SW Ohio does get as low as zero-ish during the coldest part of the winter. I’ve heard chickens can easily take temps as low as -20…just not sure I want to test that!View attachment 3327906
Click to expand...
How old are the hens? (I’m too lazy to go all the way back and look.) At 15 weeks, he’s still a baby if they’re mature hens.
 
bobbi-j said:
How old are the hens? (I’m too lazy to go all the way back and look.) At 15 weeks, he’s still a baby if they’re mature hens.
Click to expand...
Lol, I get that…it’s a pretty long thread. They are all about 2 months older than he is. 3 olive eggers, 4 RI Reds, and 4 black sex links. Only 6 of them have started laying. It’s so funny, he stands head and shoulders above them…he just doesn’t realize it yet.
 

Similar threads

C Siena
2 flocks, integrating chicks into one of them, in process.
Replies
6
Views
265
C Siena
C Siena
DuckDuckSook
Silkie Rooster Question - Should I or Shouldn't I?
Replies
7
Views
417
DuckDuckSook
DuckDuckSook
MarlaMac
    • Like
Bringing in new chickens
2
Replies
11
Views
412
Mrs. K
Mrs. K
C
    • Like
Adding new pullets to a young flock
Replies
6
Views
249
my21chickens
my21chickens
Chubbicthe2nd
    • Like
Rooster vs Cockerel libido?
Replies
4
Views
515
Chubbicthe2nd
Chubbicthe2nd

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom