I have 5 hens and 2 roosters. I ended up with 2 roosters on accident. I have heard the hen to rooster ratio but being that I raised them from chicks I was too attached to get rid of them and they were so sweet when they were young. As they have matured they have been taking a toll on my hens... Plucking their feathers out... It makes my hens looks awful. I'm not sure if they are doing this in competition with eachother or if that's just how roosters are but I decided the more dominant rooster had to get out of the coop today. I have tried to rehome him multiple times but no one has taken him. Today I let him out to free range in hopes that he would hang around. I put a dog carrier next to coop with straw in it for him. I went out to check on him as sun went down and he was trying to get in coop and it broke my heart to have him struggling and wanting to be with the others. After sun went down I went to check on him again and he was not in the carrier I left for him, of course, he was on top of the coop which seems super dangerous to me because of predators. I assumed he would go up in the trees to roost. Anyway.... I am feeling super guilty about kicking him out the coop but I have to do what's best for my laying hens. I guess my question is... Is it okay to let him free range alone? I feel as if I am neglecting him of protection. Maybe I'm just an overly emotional chicken mom And if it is okay to allow him to free range alone, how can I get him to go in dog carrier I left for him at night?
Frankly, if he has no shelter, he is not protected at night. Trees are not safe for chickens to roost in. Raccoons, oppossums, and owls can get to them. On the ground you have skunks, coons, dogs, coyotes, fox... Have you advertised on Craigslist? In the paper? Farm supply stores? If he lived here, he would be put in the freezer. In my opinion, that's kinder than letting him suffer from whatever could get him at night. You can try to put him in the carrier at night, every night, but chickens like to roost, so he may not be too happy there. I hope you can find a solution to your problem.
He's likely to get killed out there, not pleasantly. Better that you rehome him ASAP; a quick death and the freezer would even be kinder. Mary
This is when romance meet reality. As you have found out, you really can't just keep all the roosters. From what I read, I think you are reluctant to cull this bird in the traditional sense, however, you are setting him up to be culled. It will depend on the predators in your area. The top of the coop is one of the safer areas for him, down on the ground he would be very easy to get. If you think the dog kennel is predator proof, and you want him in that at night, you could try, letting him in with the girls, then when he is roosting and asleep, wrap him in an old towel and place him in the kennel. Put the kennel outside in the same place. Let him out in the morning. Truthfully, I don't think this will work. He will continue to want in with the girls, and probably roost on the top of the coop. If you cannot cull him, perhaps you know someone else that can, at least that is quick and painless. Mrs K
He isn't going to know to go in the dog carrier on his own. on his own. If it is large enough or you might want to try something larger, keep him penned for a week or so and then let him out. Hopefully he will return to where he has been sleeping, especially if you put his food inside. Do your other chickens free range? If not, perhaps you could pull your other rooster out if they get along and let the two roosters be together. That way he would have a friend. Your hens might appreciate the break, too.
If all you want is fresh eggs? You don't need roosters. Roosters can be awful...The one I had last year was so mean. He attacked me every single day.. I sold him to an old man for $10 dollars. Haha! Keeping a Danish brown Leghorn cockerel this year and if he turns on me? He will be gone too. Really its up too you and the Roosters..
To be blunt, you are being inhumane to the rooster by locking him out and inhumane to your hens by keeping him. If you can't rehome him, eat him or donate him to a local zoo. The zoo animals need to eat and the staff will handle him humanely.
