New to us rooster help

[Jace57]

Hi everyone,
We recently purchased a home in southeastern PA that came with a rooster. Story from the previous owners This rooster was just dropped off one day by we assume a passer by. He has never left and roams the property. He gets fed and water is left out for him.

He’s reluctant to move into any type of shelter and currently roosts in a pine tree and roams the property by day. I’m assuming he needs some sort of shelter for winter to keep out of the elements ?

Thanks for any advice

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do you have a coop and run?
Barn?

Does he roost low enough that you could grab him?

Have you physically handled a grumpy chicken before?

 

[NatJ]

How long has the rooster lived there? If he was there last winter, maybe the former owners of the house can tell you what they did (or did not) do for him.

A pine tree can provide pretty good shelter: deflects rain and snow from above, blocks wind from the sides, lots of ventilation. The rooster may have already chosen the ideal place to sleep.

 

[Jace57]

No to all, except we do have a barn. He is pretty curious when your outside and usually hangs around you. Previous owners said they would leave barn door open and he would eventually just go in there. Does this seem ok to do ? How cold should I attempt his migration

 

[Jace57]

Nat J

How long has the rooster lived there? If he was there last winter, maybe the former owners of the house can tell you what they did (or did not) do for him.

A pine tree can provide pretty good shelter: deflects rain and snow from above, blocks wind from the sides, lots of ventilation. The rooster may have already chosen the ideal place to sleep.

He’s been here for about 3 or 4 years. Previous owners would leave barn door open until he went in and then closed him in the barn all winter. They would feed and water of course. I’m a little reluctant with this method just due to the mess he would make on all our stuff, but willing for this year at least if that’s recommended

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hmmmmm.....
The longer he roams/sleeps free the more risk of a predator getting him.

Chickens are pretty sound sleepers. It makes them easy targets.

To pen him up you would need a fenced area with roof or wire above it that is perhaps hooked to the side of the barn. A small opening into the barn and simple walls inside the barn works well as a coop.

Maybe a hoop coop/run would be easier and less hassle. They are very easy to make.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ms-biddys-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.73755/

There are tons of ways to build these. I like the one I linked.

 

[NatJ]

A pen that's entirely inside the barn could work for the winter, assuming the barn has the right amount of ventilation (sealed up tight isn't good for chickens.)

A pen could be a dog kennel, a horse stall, or something like what 21hens-incharge linked. It mostly needs to keep the rooster in, and predators out. If it's outdoors, it also need to keep the weather out--not an issue inside a barn. 1/2" hardware cloth is usually recommended to keep out racoon hands, rats, and other nasties.

For just one rooster:
4-6 feet each way (so 16-36 square feet) would give him plenty of room to move around.
A board or bar to perch on (2-4 inches wide, no sharp corners)
Water and feed (chick starter or an all-flock type chicken feed, not just corn or scratch grains)
Bedding: hay, straw, dry leaves, wood shavings, wood chips, dry corn husks, shredded paper, etc. Some of those need cleaning or replacing more frequently than others, so its a matter of balancing what's convenient to get with what's convenient to use.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Good luck catching him!

 

[centrarchid]

Show a picture of him.

 

[aart]

I’m a little reluctant with this method just due to the mess he would make on all our stuff, but willing for this year at least if that’s recommended

Understood. ...and do you even want a resident rooster? Kind of got stuck, eh @Jace57 ?

A pen that's entirely inside the barn could work for the winter, assuming the barn has the right amount of ventilation (sealed up tight isn't good for chickens.)

A pen could be a dog kennel, a horse stall, or something like what 21hens-incharge linked. It mostly needs to keep the rooster in, and predators out. If it's outdoors, it also need to keep the weather out--not an issue inside a barn. 1/2" hardware cloth is usually recommended to keep out racoon hands, rats, and other nasties.

For just one rooster:
4-6 feet each way (so 16-36 square feet) would give him plenty of room to move around.
A board or bar to perch on (2-4 inches wide, no sharp corners)
Water and feed (chick starter or an all-flock type chicken feed, not just corn or scratch grains)
Bedding: hay, straw, dry leaves, wood shavings, wood chips, dry corn husks, shredded paper, etc. Some of those need cleaning or replacing more frequently than others, so its a matter of balancing what's convenient to get with what's convenient to use.

Good Idea there.

Show a picture of him.

Yes, please....and pics of barn too.