Need opinions on a single Rooster chick.

[GuamChicken]

Hello everyone,

I would like people's opinions on my current situation. I have a flock of 8 hens and one rooster. I recently, 2 days ago, had a failed hatch of 7 eggs, and I knew it would be bad ( details later on the disaster) but was hopeful. So the long story short, I hatched one ORP rooster. I know its a rooster, its in the brooder box and he looks great. Should I try to keep him as maybe a rooster pet, I could do it. I read about spend the time with single roosters as chicks and if they don't associate with other birds they become trainable and good pets. I don't want to try to integrate him in the new flock when he's older, it just wont work with one bird in my situation, I know from experience. And of course, the alternative is to euthanise him. That's not really my cup of tea, as I like to nurse wayward animals along . I will be starting a new hatch with a new incubator, but that doesn't affect what I do now with this guy. All opinions appreciated..

 

[GuamChicken]

ok, I will think no opinion is an opinion. lol..

 

[curious chickee]

I couldn't euthanize a healthy chick, but i wouldn't want a pet rooster. I would probably pick up a couple chicks from feed store for buddies and then process or rehome roo when older.

 

[Amina]

It's really about what you want - does a rooster pet sound appealing to you? I agree with curious chickee. It doesn't sound particularly appealing to me. I would also be getting a couple more chick buddies for him and then would process him when he's old enough. The good news is, until he gets brazen enough to try to mate with your hens, your existing rooster should not view him as a threat. He will be viewed like any other youngster. So when you integrate the other (hopefully female) youngsters into your flock, he can go in too, temporarily. Just process him before he starts fighting with your older roo.

 

[Amina]

Wait, you say this chick hatched only a few days ago? How can you know that this chick is a boy? It should take at least a few weeks before the telltale signs appear.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

It's really about what you want - does a rooster pet sound appealing to you? I agree with curious chickee. It doesn't sound particularly appealing to me. I would also be getting a couple more chick buddies for him and then would process him when he's old enough. The good news is, until he gets brazen enough to try to mate with your hens, your existing rooster should not view him as a threat. He will be viewed like any other youngster. So when you integrate the other (hopefully female) youngsters into your flock, he can go in too, temporarily. Just process him before he starts fighting with your older roo.

x2

 

[The Pinto Pony]

A single Chick can easily be raised alone,But do you really want a Rooster?!?(Even if its a Cockerel)