Injured Rooster

[BackyardinWales]

My rooster has been in a cage in my bathroom for 4 weeks.

Can I just put him back in his pen (after we see the vet tomorrow) as he is one of two roosters in that pen, or is it still put him in after lights out?

(Never had to deal with this situation before)

Thank you in advance.

 

[DobieLover]

What is the ambient temperature outside in Wales right now? Having him in a warm house for a month and then putting him out in the cold could be enough stress to kill him. Also putting him in the coop after lights out is another recipe for disaster. The birds won't remember him and having another male suddenly show up when you already have a rooster in the flock could cause a very bad fight. How was the temporary house rooster injured in the first place?
Please post pictures of your setup.

 

[BackyardinWales]

It hasn't been majorly cold here over the last month, and that side of the house has been unheated because I know that don't like it very warm (to be fair, neither do I.)

I heard and felt a crack when I picked him up to remove him from the girls pen to put him back in his own pen. (Don't know what was done, but I also found an L bracket in a bad place, so that could have been the culprit.)

As for reintroducing to a flock, he would only be going in with his brother, who I'm sure also hears him every morning at stupid o'clock, as I'm sure he still hears his brother.

Although in the same area the boys are separate to the girls, especially now I've fixed the holes.

It's not a huge area, but there is space. Just not for two boy coops.

Having said not to reintroduce after lights out, should I do it before they go to roost?

 

[centrarchid]

I strongly recommend you treat the two roosters, even though brothers raised together, as complete strangers. Place the rehabilitated rooster in a separate pen.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I would not count on his brother being kind to him!! They don't see relationships the way we do..and it will be another male coming into his territory! I've seen it with my own chickens! I would tread cautiously and slowly. They need to be by each other, and able to see each other for awhile before being in the same pen together.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Personally I'd try it early in the day when I can be around to monitor. And I'd try in the largest space I had available. Separating them for a few days is how you reset the pecking order. They will need to determine which one is boss.

You do not get guarantees with living animals but I strongly suspect they will fight. If one has room to run away and get away when it realizes it is losing that fight he has a better chance of surviving. They may work out a way to work together or they may fight to the death. A fight to the death is more likely in a small area where one cannot run away but it could happen in a wide open area.

If you need to separate two fighting roosters you could get hurt. Think about how you will do that if you need to.

 

[Windywoo]

Personally I'd try it early in the day when I can be around to monitor. And I'd try in the largest space I had available. Separating them for a few days is how you reset the pecking order. They will need to determine which one is boss.

You do not get guarantees with living animals but I strongly suspect they will fight. If one has room to run away and get away when it realizes it is losing that fight he has a better chance of surviving. They may work out a way to work together or they may fight to the death. A fight to the death is more likely in a small area where one cannot run away but it could happen in a wide open area.

If you need to separate two fighting roosters you could get hurt. Think about how you will do that if you need to.

You could try a cardboard box or a laundry basket???

 

[BackyardinWales]

Thank you all for your thoughts! Guess I may still ve some early mornings then. I'll see what the vet says, and it'll be slowly reintroducing them. Much as I would prefer he be the dominant one, I think he's the more submissive one. But I guess time will tell. Thank you all again.