Lone Rooster

[dela1991]

I am attempting to rehome my rooster. I keep only 6 hens and am afraid that he is too much for them. I have tried the hen aprons and now he is pulling feathers off of their heads. Someone contacted me about taking my rooster but she has no other chickens. She wants only one rooster. I am sure she would provide a good home but the thought of him being alone bothers me. Has anyone ever kept just one chicken?

Thanks for any input.

Terri

 

[Judy]

Yes -- but they are flock animals and do better with their kind. If I were going to keep only one, though, I'd choose a people friendly rooster. He will probably become quite attached to his human. Not so bad if they can sustain the relationship.

Many people keep one roo with one or two hens routinely, without a problem. Sounds like yours is too rough when he mates, though, and if so, more hens won't help. I had one who was so bad the hens hid from him; it was truly painful to see him mate them. I've had a number of roos and never saw that before.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

I had an only little bantam chicken for a few years and she was fine, she still prefers to be with us rather than the other chickens, however now she is help raising some babies with another mama so she is very content, for now

 

[dela1991]

Thanks for the info. I am torn between wanting the best for him and wanting the best for the hens. He is pretty brutal. I know that he needs to go but I don't want him to suffer for doing what comes naturally to him. I also don't want this persons first chicken experience to be a bad one. This rooster is not interested in human interaction. I told the girl who is interested in taking him that there may not be any real affection from him. He is good at protecting the hens and he lets us know when someone is coming up the drive.

I am still giving this some thought as I might keep looking for a home for him with someone who has other chickens, lots of other chickens. I do have a broody who hatched out five chicks within the past week and a half. There are probably a few roosters in that bunch and when they are ready to go, I can possibly give them to this person so that she can raise them from youngsters and have the type of relationship she wants with them.