girtengirl
In the Brooder
Hello all have an issue I need help with. About a year ago I rescued a very large mixed breed older Rooster with deformed feet from the local animal shelter. He is such a great rooster; very good to his ladies, alert and watch full, easy going with most of my bantam roosters, not aggressive with me or anyone else, taught my cockerels how to be good roosters. My flock is large, mixed bantam and standard. I have one coup and very large run designated for all hens, my rescued rooster and a few of my more docile bantam roosters. I have another coup and very large run as a bachelor's pad with a mixture of 5 standard and 6 bantam pure breeds that I wanted to use for breeding program. I also have 4 smaller nursery pens where my new mommies and baby chicks go once all are hatched. I have a juvenile run that holds my juveniles until large enough to integrate into my large hen flock. Lastly I have a breeding pen for the lovers. OK here is part of my dilemma, my rescued rooster was the cock of the walk until recently when he got sick and had to be separated. I almost lost him due to respiratory or cold but I worked diligently to bring him back. Mind you he is no where near the rooster he used to be, still very much on the mend. Today was the first time he has crowed in weeks. Well I let him out of the hospital cage because he needed to stretch and free range a bit. However he is being harassed by some of my smaller roosters because they know he is not well. I can't put him in the Bachelor Pad because they will kill him and I promised him a retirement home. I was going to have a retirement home built for him and put a few of my older gals in with him but one problem, because he has feet deformation he is rough on my hens feathers. Some of his favorite gals look bald and abused because his feet tare them up. Any suggestions on a happy separation? No cooking instructions my babies are pets and hobbies. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
