Separating hens from larger flock to join a lonely rooster

[DobieLover]

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you! Should I put them in a small cage to get them used to him or can I just put them in and keep an eye on them?

As long as he's known healthy I would just put the girls in with him. They've all been on the same property, just different pens correct?

 

[BlueCreek]

As long as he's known healthy I would just put the girls in with him. They've all been on the same property, just different pens correct?

Yes, they’ve been on the same property. I don’t know why the girls died but the roo appears healthy.

 

[BlueCreek]

Hens being put with a rooster is an easy integration compared other chicken integrations. Personally I would choose two hens who get along well and just place them directly with the roo and see how it goes, but live animals are unpredictable, so some keepers would use the see no touch first.

Thank you. I think I’ll wait until evening when all the girls roost and choose 2 that are not near their rooster. It’s less traumatic for everyone to catch them from their roost! I’ll take them to the new pen and rooster so they can wake up together in the morning. It’s sad to see the lonely roo pacing back and forth!

 

[BlueCreek]

What did your other hens die of? Were they old? Were they having any symptoms before they died? I'd be concerned that he will expose them to an illness, if you noticed any illness with his prior hens.

I didn’t notice any problems with either of the hens that died. They both seemed perfectly healthy, walking around and eating/drinking just fine. I found one dead several weeks after the other one. Both hens were about 1 1/2 year old Cochins.

 

[BlueCreek]

Update on the hen transfer: I took 2 hens from the main coop in the evening and put them in with the lonely rooster in his separate enclosure. I had to move them one at a time and the first girl panicked for a minute but settled right down. I got the second girl in and they were both fine immediately. The girls are hanging out with each other and the lonely roo isn't lonely anymore. Everybody seems to be getting along just fine today. I'll keep an eye on them, just the same. Thanks everyone for your kind advice! I can tell this is going to be a great place to share experience and knowledge.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Thank's for the update and the Great New's!

 

[Debbie292d]

Update on the hen transfer: I took 2 hens from the main coop in the evening and put them in with the lonely rooster in his separate enclosure. I had to move them one at a time and the first girl panicked for a minute but settled right down. I got the second girl in and they were both fine immediately. The girls are hanging out with each other and the lonely roo isn't lonely anymore. Everybody seems to be getting along just fine today. I'll keep an eye on them, just the same. Thanks everyone for your kind advice! I can tell this is going to be a great place to share experience and knowledge.

That's awesome! Thank you for letting us know. It's great to know your lonely rooster isn't lonely anymore!

 

[N F C]

Update on the hen transfer: I took 2 hens from the main coop in the evening and put them in with the lonely rooster in his separate enclosure. I had to move them one at a time and the first girl panicked for a minute but settled right down. I got the second girl in and they were both fine immediately. The girls are hanging out with each other and the lonely roo isn't lonely anymore. Everybody seems to be getting along just fine today. I'll keep an eye on them, just the same. Thanks everyone for your kind advice! I can tell this is going to be a great place to share experience and knowledge.

Glad things are working out well, thanks for the update!