- Nov 9, 2008
- 39
- 4
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Hi,
This is a sticky situation I have created for myself, and would like some advice on how to best "undo" it. I'll try to be brief (but that doesn't come easily for me
In March, we got 6 day olds (Buff Orps, Wyandotte, EEs) from local breeder... supposed to be hens. Plus a neighbor gave us a bantam silkie x cochin rooster. Turned out to be all boys.
In August, got 25 girl EEs from hatchery kept 15 and gave 10 to my neighbor. They are now 4 mos. old. At first, they all lived together in the coop, with the girls in a "play pen" that protected them, and the roos free ranged during the day, only roosting in the coop at night.
When the girls outgrew the playpen, the girls got the coop, and the roos roosted in the attached outdoor pen, with a makeshift shelter from wind. The girls would use the pen during the day while the boys were out free ranging.
About a month ago, the banty had a close encounter with predator, and the other boys started picking on him, so he now lives with the girls and won't go outside. But for the most part, all the boys always got along pretty well.
We have been gradually finding homes for all the roos... now we are down to one 8-mo. old Ameracauna (plus the banty in the coop).
Now for the problem:
The lonely roo is out in the pen at night, and it is getting very cold. I want to let all of them go in and out now as they please (the girls are big enough now to stand up to our cats)... but are they too young to be exposed to the large rooster? They are about the size of the banty, and so far, only one has shown signs of any problems from him. But I don't want to create problems for everyone with a much larger guy!
Should I wait until they are older?
Will the lonely roo be okay on his own with no other body warmth?
The nights are getting into the upper 20s and 30s here, and can be very windy. Days are 40s-50s. By Jan. it can be in teens at night.
Last night, I let him in the coop at dark, so he would roost right away and not chase anyone. I also left the hatch door open to the attached pen, so anyone could run out there if they wanted. He perched at first, then got down and chased the banty roo, then he went out the hatch to sleep where he had been sleeping in the pen!
This morning, he came in the hatch and chased everyone around. I forced him out the door. I know they need to sort things out, as they haven't been together for months. But is it too soon? should I wait?
My plan was to leave the door open all day today, and let the girls have their first try at freedom, while also letting everyone "meet and greet" with plenty of open space. Though, most likely, he'll just come in and they'll all stay in and get chased around...
The roo is all alone with only the ducks during the day, and at night, no one. But I don't want my hens getting roughed up by him if they are too young! If they are old enough, I want to let him come in and be warm. If not, I guess I better figure out a better makeshift shelter... but I also hate to see him all alone all the time!
What should I do?
Thanks!!
Lynn
This is a sticky situation I have created for myself, and would like some advice on how to best "undo" it. I'll try to be brief (but that doesn't come easily for me
In March, we got 6 day olds (Buff Orps, Wyandotte, EEs) from local breeder... supposed to be hens. Plus a neighbor gave us a bantam silkie x cochin rooster. Turned out to be all boys.
In August, got 25 girl EEs from hatchery kept 15 and gave 10 to my neighbor. They are now 4 mos. old. At first, they all lived together in the coop, with the girls in a "play pen" that protected them, and the roos free ranged during the day, only roosting in the coop at night.
When the girls outgrew the playpen, the girls got the coop, and the roos roosted in the attached outdoor pen, with a makeshift shelter from wind. The girls would use the pen during the day while the boys were out free ranging.
About a month ago, the banty had a close encounter with predator, and the other boys started picking on him, so he now lives with the girls and won't go outside. But for the most part, all the boys always got along pretty well.
We have been gradually finding homes for all the roos... now we are down to one 8-mo. old Ameracauna (plus the banty in the coop).
Now for the problem:
The lonely roo is out in the pen at night, and it is getting very cold. I want to let all of them go in and out now as they please (the girls are big enough now to stand up to our cats)... but are they too young to be exposed to the large rooster? They are about the size of the banty, and so far, only one has shown signs of any problems from him. But I don't want to create problems for everyone with a much larger guy!
Should I wait until they are older?
Will the lonely roo be okay on his own with no other body warmth?
The nights are getting into the upper 20s and 30s here, and can be very windy. Days are 40s-50s. By Jan. it can be in teens at night.
Last night, I let him in the coop at dark, so he would roost right away and not chase anyone. I also left the hatch door open to the attached pen, so anyone could run out there if they wanted. He perched at first, then got down and chased the banty roo, then he went out the hatch to sleep where he had been sleeping in the pen!
This morning, he came in the hatch and chased everyone around. I forced him out the door. I know they need to sort things out, as they haven't been together for months. But is it too soon? should I wait?
My plan was to leave the door open all day today, and let the girls have their first try at freedom, while also letting everyone "meet and greet" with plenty of open space. Though, most likely, he'll just come in and they'll all stay in and get chased around...
The roo is all alone with only the ducks during the day, and at night, no one. But I don't want my hens getting roughed up by him if they are too young! If they are old enough, I want to let him come in and be warm. If not, I guess I better figure out a better makeshift shelter... but I also hate to see him all alone all the time!
What should I do?
Thanks!!
Lynn
