My Son's Chicken - A Minor Dilemma

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Hoping for some advice on a minor dilemma I'm dealing with.

About 8 weeks ago, our chicks arrived. They're Red Stars, so gender is pretty clear. Well, to me or you...to the hatchery staff, apparently not so much.

My six girls turned out to be 5 girls and a guy. The girls are red/white and the boy is yellow.

I have some nearby neighbors, and purposely went with an all-hen order to make sure nobody was bothered by the crowing (and honestly, the idea of constant crowing and a non-egg producing mouth to feed didn't thrill me).

The hatchery refunded my payment for the one chick ($4.15), which isn't really all that big a help, but I figured we'd re-home the rooster and have the five hens.

Anyway, re-homing wasn't going to be that difficult..except...for my minor dilemma.

We have a 2 1/2 year old son, Teddy, who's quite a character. He talks way more than most kids his age, and he's decided that the rooster is HIS chicken. This has been going on pretty much since the beginning....but now that the chicks are outside, it's even more intense.

To his credit, the rooster seems to be willing to play along...he's the only chicken that will let Teddy go over to him and pick him up, pet him, etc.

So, I have qualms about a rooster, but I'd feel awful taking HIS chicken from our little guy.

So, what are my options...best I can figure:

1) Talk to the neighbors, let them know we have a rooster, but if he becomes a disturbance, we can get rid of him....but hope to keep him (maybe share a sad picture of Teddy with them if they complain?).

2) Swap the rooster for a similarly aged yellow hen.

3) Get rid of the rooster and tell my son his chicken turned red and white.

4) Try to reason with the rooster and see if he can't either not crow or be willing to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Any advice is welcome....at 8 weeks, we've got no crowing yet, but I know it's just a matter of time.

 

[Wyleiria]

If you neuter a rooster, do they still crow? Maybe an idea...

If it were me, I would get another friendly pullet that looks similar... My experience with roosters is that they can turn pretty mean almost overnight. However, I did have a little bantam rooster growing up named "Little Man" and he was the friendliest chicken I've ever owned...

 

[jessietacos]

Seems like a very friendly rooster

! I suggest talking to neighbors and figuring out if roosters are allowed in your area. I personally can't have them since the town won't allow it, but cockerels can be quite beneficial to your hens' well being. It all depends on if you are willing to put up with the noise and un-productiveness.

 

[Majd]

The order is right to me.... if #1 doesn't work. .. try #2... if #2 doesn't work, so try #3 and if #3 doesn't work try #4... this post made me laugh out loud! !! Cute kid you have there!! God bless...

 

[Noah]

I can see the problem as your little boy is attached to "his" chicken. (rooster)
Now, just my two cents for what it's worth-lol
I had three roosters in my lifetime.
Raised all three myself from babies, when they were young they even stayed in the house.
Lovely, sweet natured UNTIL 6-9 months of age.
They would be so protective over the coop and the hens, I couldn't enjoy the girls or clean the coop without problems.
I'm sure there are pleasant roos out there but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting one.
My first rooster loved me so much...he'd attack anyone who went near me. (sounds like a good thing but not when little kids are around or my other animals)
I got bit so badly once, I couldn't use my hand properly for over a week.
Grabbed and twisted my skin until it bled.
Now, I'm not trying to scare you but it was heartbreaking for me to have to rehome them (even after the bite)
I can only imagine it would be harder on a child if he has to get rid of his "chicken" after even more time passes.
#4 will never work...there is no reasoning with a rooster.
It was a good thought though.