Lost rooster returned, new rooster already established

[AaronH]

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum and new to raising chickens too. I started my flock about 4 weeks ago. I was given 4 adult hens and a rooster. Two days in, the rooster got out, was chased by our dog, and refused to return. He was at the edge of our property, where he crowed every morning. I don't know where he roosted at night. He survived a terrible storm and who knows what else but wouldn't come back. We were told he wouldn't come back since he was traumatized and lost his tail feathers running from the dog.
After he was gone about a week,we got another rooster, who we kept in a dog kennel. The hens adored him right away, and we introduced him to them within a week. He'd been low in the pecking order at his previous home but immediately puffed up with pride amongst our hens.
After the first rooster's escape, I enclosed an area with 3-foot chicken wire, knowing they could hop out if they were so inclined. The fence has helped keep the dogs away and the chickens feeling safe.
Last night, the original rooster came steering around the run out of nowhere! The new rooster kept patrolling the run, flapping wings and kicking the ground. Eventually, the original rooster flew atop the gate and directly into the coop.
I'm worried about the pecking order and fighting. I'm also wondering if the original rooster could have contacted any diseases while roaming for 3 weeks. There are only four hens for two roosters too, which could be a problem. The coop and run are large enough for about 12 chickens.
Does anyone have any advice? (None of the chickens want to be handled and peck at me when I try.)
Thanks,
Aaron

 

[AaronH]

Thanks, everyone. I butchered the newer of the two roosters today. The flock seems much happier and back in harmony. The newer rooster had been getting more aggressive by the day, keeping hens out of nesting boxes, kicking eggs around and breaking them and pecking at the other rooster. As soon as the bully was gone, the whole flock seemed to relax. I truly appreciate the advice.

 

[write2caroline]

If you plan to have more chicks you need only one rooster. I agree pick the nicer of the two.

Your previous Roo may have roosted in a tree nearby. It is not uncommon especially if he were frightened. He may have heard new rooster crowing and came back to defend his girls.

My Grandfather - back in the early 1930's went to the Northern Islands in Alaska to hunt pelts for a season so get a stake for his family. When the boat didn't come to pick him up, we waited a month and finally hiked himself out. Nearly died. Took time to recover and soon as he was able he got word to the family via telegram. He got no response. His wifes family was very well to do so he was concerned. He had to work another month or two to get fare to get back to his family - he sent letters but still no responses. When he finally was able to return, he found his wife had been told he was dead and had remarried - there was some interference from the family. So My grandfather was somewhat surprised he had been replaced. (According to Violet, she didn't know about the telegrams and letters. Her marriage to rich 2nd husband immediately annulled but she never went back to my grandfather and somehow he was arrested and sent to prison - long story, upon release he married my grandmother and they homesteaded in S.E. Alaska Bush.)

Your Rooster may likewise been surprised to find another guy with his flock. Poor guy.

I have kept multiple Roosters but yours each think same hens belong to them, They will fight for their girls.

Caroline

 

[aart]

Quote:

So 13-16 weeks for butcher is that a decent size for a roasting too??

They are pretty 'skinny', not a ton of meat, compared to an older bird or a broiler.......
......but it tastes good, the grilled skin is delicious and the grilled bones make a great stock.
Don't know about roasting, I grill or stew in pressure cooker all the birds I harvest.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

You can keep the two,and get more hens.

Introducing them will not be difficult,unless they choose not to cooperate.Are you sure on how to?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You will need to decide which rooster you want. 4 hens might get mated bare from one rooster, two isn't a good idea. They will probably do a lot of fighting too, so either get rid of one or build a pen for one, but don't keep them together. I wouldn't worry about disease from the wandering rooster unless he was visiting other chickens, I would worry more about what the new rooster might be carrying instead.

 

[AaronH]

Thanks for your reply. Should we just eat one? I noticed broken eggs in the coop today. That's never happened before. What does it mean?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That would be the best way to deal with it. I would keep the rooster that treats the hens best and isn't aggressive with you.

Were the eggs pecked or cracked? Sometimes they get cracked and hens will eat them, sometimes they need extra protein or calcium and they eat them. It does depend on what you are finding. Sometimes roosters will get in the nestboxes to show the hens, he could be breaking them. If it happens again you might need to spend so time watching them.

 

[AaronH]

It's hard to say. The rooster has been in the nesting boxes. The new rooster, for sure. He's not too fond of the other rooster returning at all, and had been flapping his wings and kicking the ground. I am familiar with the process of introducing new hens, but I'm not sure of anyone who wants to get rid of any. Also, this process takes a while. Will the flock be cannibalistic by the time I introduce new hens?

 

[aart]

You will need to decide which rooster you want. 4 hens might get mated bare from one rooster, two isn't a good idea. They will probably do a lot of fighting too, so either get rid of one or build a pen for one, but don't keep them together. I wouldn't worry about disease from the wandering rooster unless he was visiting other chickens, I would worry more about what the new rooster might be carrying instead.

Ditto Dat^^^