lone rooster

[flockofbirds]

Just yesterday I had to put my last hen to sleep and now my little Bantam rooster is alone and I am worried this will affect his ability to thrive. Have had chickens for over 10 years and loved them dearly, but my circumstances have changed and I am reluctant to take on new chickens. On the other hand, I don't want this to make my boy miserable. Finding another home for him is probably next to impossible. Any advice?

 

[Judy]

How tame is he? If he is bonded to you, that might be the best place for him at this stage in his life.

 

[flockofbirds]

Thanks for your response. He has always been guarded around me, though he will get close when there is food. Maybe this is an opportunity to bond with the rooster? I so want to keep him! He has always seemed otherwise happy here, with property to roam on and, oddly enough, few predators in evidence. I just wonder if, without hens to worry over, he has no way to satisfy his instincts, so it wouldn't be fair to keep him isolated like this.

 

[donrae]

You can always try to find another home for him. Sometimes long shots come through. Other wise, you can keep him and just see how it goes. If he's content, then fine. If he's miserable and unhappy, go ahead and put him down.

 

[flockofbirds]

Hi. Thanks for your message. I will look for signs that he is not doing well and in the meantime ask around. He came to me from a farm with a lot of roosters and chickens, all large breeds, and he was being bullied, so for him to be the alpha here I think made him happy. He crows a lot in the morning and I am not sure if I'm hearing it because he's back roosting in the trees (like he did last summer) or if he's looking for his now departed companion. Will keep an eye on him.