rescued RIR chick

[maggiegigs]

I reluctantly took which I believe is a RIR chick from someone who bought her/him around Easter because it was cute. Grrrrr
Anyway I have two lovely, quiet ORPS which this little one will have to integrate eventually in about 5-6 months. Are RIR noisy or aggressive? I hate to disrupt or stress my older girls. Also I have neighbors which is why I got Orps. Any info would be appreciated.
I am unclear as what to do. Thanks.

 

[Debbi]

If you can, make a small pen for the RIR chick within the coop. Make sure to use fencing with small holes so the chick can't squeeze through, like hardware cloth. Some chicken wire is too big. With the chick in the coop with the Orps, they can see it but can't harm it. The older girls will get used to seeing it this way, so it will be not so big a shock when they get introduced without the fencing when the chick gets larger. It may take several months for them to accept the new one. The more room they have, the better. I have had RIRs in the past, and never had an aggressive hen, but the roos were a different story. Several of them became rooster caccitore!

 

[buffalogal]

If they bought it as an "Easter Chick", it's probably a male. Hatcheries have a longstanding tradition of selling the extra males to fill Easter baskets. Up until last year, you could still find vivid, multicolored Easter chicks (Green! Red! Orange! Blue! Purple!) that had been dipped in food coloring that would inevitably grow up to be Leghorn Cockerels.

 

[maggiegigs]

Yes, that was my first suspicion that it was a male these "pet shops" try to pawn off to the unwitting public as "adorable".
I fear that a RIR rooster might be aggressive with the orp hens. They are just so content and HATE to disrupt their environment.
This little one downstairs is constantly running up and down the box chirping and trying to fly out. It is only about 2 weeks old.
It seemed "spunky" which raised my suspicion to being a male. Oh dear a dilemna. Thanks for your imput.

 

[rhs7111]

Wait and see what the chick becomes. It could very well be a pullet, it's too soon to tell. My hatchery RIRs are super sweet, smart and get along well with others...it's worth waiting to see how this chicks turns out.

 

[ECBW]

RIR has gotten a bad rap unfairly. I think they are more lively and curious, thus make interesting pets, not to mention best layers. I would say RIR hens are not noisy or aggressive. I keep a mix-breed flock and appreciate the different traits of the various breeds.

I have never had roosters. Does anyone know how long until the genders can be ID?

 

[rhs7111]

Also, the RIR chicks is probably zipping around like that because he/she is all alone. Chicks like to be with other chicks.