Lonely Rooster

[Windy Lane]

I have 13 ISA, 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Chanteclair, 1 Coronation Sussex, 3 Austrolorp, and 1 Lavender Orpington --hens. My Rooster is a Lavender Orpington and quite a large boy. I separated him from the girls and put him in the run next door. He is now "crying" and night. I feel bad for him but I'm afraid he will hurt my pullets. Should I not worry and put him back with the girls?

 

[sylviethecochin]

If he hasn't been hurting the hens, then return him. Chickens are not meant to live outside a flock, and it stresses them. Besides--that certainly sounds like enough girls to keep him busy so that he doesn't focus on one or two and rub off all of their feathers.

If he was hurting the girls--pulling out feathers, chasing them down without a mating dance--get a new roo or go without, but I wouldn't keep him around.

 

[Helena B.]

Honestly I don't think there is too much to be worried about unless your girls are 1/3 of his size or somewhere near that size difference, but if you are still worried then you should just let him sleep with them at night and spend a bit of time with them and then separate them again. However I am currently having a problem with my roos hurting my girls back and wings, especially one witch has 1/2 of her back bare. If it ever comes to this I would separate them permanently, re-home, or probably one of the most unpopular options, butcher him.

 

[abraga]

Roosters are typically much larger than the hens. I would put him back w/the flock. U have plenty of hens..so..it should not be a problem.

 

[aart]

I have 13 ISA, 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Chanteclair, 1 Coronation Sussex, 3 Austrolorp, and 1 Lavender Orpington --hens. My Rooster is a Lavender Orpington and quite a large boy. I separated him from the girls and put him in the run next door. He is now "crying" and night. I feel bad for him but I'm afraid he will hurt my pullets. Should I not worry and put him back with the girls?

Welcome to BYC!
How old are these birds?
Why did you separate him?

 

[Abriana]

I would put him back in. Chickens are flock animals, they're not meant to live alone.

 

[Windy Lane]

Thank you for the welcome. I separated him from the rest because of his size; 12-14#. 8 of the girls are 20 week old pullets and the rest are smaller ISA browns. I didn't know if his mating would hurt them.

 

[Windy Lane]

After reading all the replies I have decided he will go in with the girls tonight. I have a long weekend and will keep an eye on his behavior with the pullets. Thank you all for taking the time to help.

 

[aart]

Thank you for the welcome. I separated him from the rest because of his size; 12-14#. 8 of the girls are 18 week old pullets and the rest are smaller ISA browns. I didn't know if his mating would hurt them.

How old is the male?
Are the 18 week pullets laying yet?
How old are the ISA's?

 

[Windy Lane]

How old is the male?
Are the 18 week pullets laying yet?
How old are the ISA's?

The Roo is 5-1/2 months old
The heritage pullets are 20 weeks and haven't started laying yet; but I did get 1 light colored "fart" egg yesterday
The ISA pullets are 16 weeks