Is it cruel to separate a pair of chickens raised together? I'm sad.

[ginormous chicken]

This is not silly at at all. I know we tend to project human emotions onto our animals. But if you see the bond, witness the bond, and feel the bond, we gotta trust your gut right. IMO I would give them as a pair or I would just keep both and start a second flock like stated before. Plus, being a closet romantic, I thinks he would miss him at night. Who would she sleep next to?

 

[flowerchicks]

Well, I had a similar situation. I wanted to get rid of my evil roo, but he and his girlfriend were raised together from chicks, just the two of them. They were inseperable. I couldn't get rid of him without getting rid of her, and I didn't want to get rid of her.... so, I kept them both

Now, I am the proud "mamma" of 9 hens and 3 roos

They all get along, more less. And the mean roo I wanted to get rid of is now a nice roo, who is no longer the top roo. They all work it out, somehow. I say, if you are able to have multiple roos, keep them both. Your roos will figure out who is boss between them. Give it a shot before giving up on the roo

 

[violetsky]

I would pull a toughie from your established flock and isolate him/her for a day or two
then introduce Ginger to the toughie who will be happy for company at that point and
want to bond with her, then reintroduce to the flock after a couple of days.
Also be sure there is a lot of roughage type food that is distracting when reintroducing
and seems to help them during stressfull times. I give mine hay which is more fun
to peck at than other chickens.

 

[flowerchicks]

Quote:

exactly

 

[drumstick diva]

My feeling is at some point in the road the roo is going to get crazy nuts about(constantly) breeding his girlfriend and she is going to decide she is sick and tired of him.

I think she will work her way into the flock and he will be all hormones and happy to be with any hens. Chicken love is sweet until sex enters the picture.

 

[sourland]

Post # 6- Happy Chooks has a good suggestion.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

There are a lot of good suggestions. I really want to keep her, and I equally don't want to split them up, and I really don't want to keep him. We just don't have the space at this point. I'm going to give it a few days and then decide. I know the best thing to do would be to rehome both of them. The woman taking him has a single hen with a chick after their roo died. It would be a nice small flock for them and she is crazy about chickens. sigh.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

After writing the message above, I listened to my own words. I know the best thing is to rehome them both. I emailed the lady who will be their new owner that she can have both of them. I trust they will be well cared for and I know they'll be happy to stay together. I'm just sad to see her go.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

I do hope they go to a new home together too.

Last fall I gave a friend 2 RIR pullets who seemed more bonded to each other than to other chicks. I kept a BA and the one RIR she seemed bonded to (all observations from the brooder). The ones I kept cannot bear to be separated, and they are so kind to one another, never fighting, just a bit of bickering roost position.
I saw the two I gave away last weekend. They were, along with all sorts of other chickens, pecking around, enjoying their day outdoors. They never strayed much more than 4 ft. from each other, definitely still best of friends. I was so glad I took the time to consider interpersonal relationships, my hen's lives are so much the better for it. Buddies are also much more fun to watch than squabblers

 

[allieloveschickens]

I think you are making the right choice, I have a little EE that is excluded from the rest of the flock, they attack her and actually scalped her! Without a buddy for protection and companionship she is alone in the flock- I think keeping your two together and giving them to this lady is going to be the best choice for them. Good for you!