Separating my Only two chickens and WORRIED!

[Shell1981]

I have two 4 week old EE's. I've recently come to the realization that one is a rooster. Before I become overly attached (I've had them since 1 week of age), I need to re-home the roo. The feed store that I purchased him from is willing to take him back and give him a nice home where he will not become dinner. Or lunch. I'm worried about the female chick. She CANNOT be away from him for more than a second without crying. He cries too and they run to each other immediately upon becoming separated. She's always at his side. It's adorable. So....I plan on getting a few golden red star sex-linked hens from My Pet Chicken. If I time the delivery so that they arrive before I bring him back to the feed store, do you think it will help her cope and transition? I know they are just birds, but their connection is so serious! Will HE be ok? Will SHE be ok with a few 3 day old chicks? Should I just take both 4 week old birds back to the feed store and hope they keep the two together? I feel so torn. Every time I think about having to drive one off some where without the other, I want to burst into tears. If you have experience with this, please provide feedback!

 

[Heat]

I personally don't have any feedback here (sorry) but it does seem like they are attached. It may not hurt to time the sex-links to arrive before you plan on handing off the roo and see if the gal takes to the newbies. Maybe give it a few days with the new chicks and see if you can then separate them.. if not see if the feed store will re-home them together and explain why.

Chickens aren't just birds... they are very smart... I think people underestimate them and their feelings... as you can see they can create a bond... especially Roo to Flock (which could be what is happening).

I hope someone with some experience can lend you some feedback... but that above is my personal opinion. I hope you can get something figured out for them!

 

[Shell1981]

Thank you! That's quite a helpful response. After reading some posts (I can't find very many on this topic), it seems best to send the two 4 week old chicks off together. I have a feeling they'll be separated once they get to the feed store, but I can call and talk to them. You're right, chickens definitely have feelings and are smarter than we think. It breaks my heart to have to separate them. For the little girl, and for him. He takes really good care of her. I'm at a loss.These two are really a pair.

 

[Roxannemc]

Thank you! That's quite a helpful response. After reading some posts (I can't find very many on this topic), it seems best to send the two 4 week old chicks off together. I have a feeling they'll be separated once they get to the feed store, but I can call and talk to them. You're right, chickens definitely have feelings and are smarter than we think. It breaks my heart to have to separate them. For the little girl, and for him. He takes really good care of her. I'm at a loss.These two are really a pair.

Beforew tghe feed store... FIRST i would see if anyone on Craigs would want the 2 together as a pair.its FREE to list. Why not. try to get them a GOOD home?
Meet with them with the chicks if you are worried but I have had lots of dealing with Craigs and never a problem
Sold 3 pullets to one couple and had actually 8 ppl want them after they were promised.. They were 5 months old
I KNOW ppl want older pullets like yours or older but some ppl want a pair as pets so i would try that before you do anything like taking them to the feed store. I bet you will get some ppl if you make the price like $5-6.00 for the pair.
Describe they are closely attached so they know not to get rid of him later.
Thing is with a feed store they wont keep them together anyway so she still will be really upset you just wont see it.!

 

[Heat]

Beforew tghe feed store... FIRST i would see if anyone on Craigs would want the 2 together as a pair.its FREE to list. Why not. try to get them a GOOD home?
Meet with them with the chicks if you are worried but I have had lots of dealing with Craigs and never a problem
Sold 3 pullets to one couple and had actually 8 ppl want them after they were promised.. They were 5 months old
I KNOW ppl want older pullets like yours or older but some ppl want a pair as pets so i would try that before you do anything like taking them to the feed store. I bet you will get some ppl if you make the price like $5-6.00 for the pair.
Describe they are closely attached so they know not to get rid of him later.
Thing is with a feed store they wont keep them together anyway so she still will be really upset you just wont see it.!

That is very wise. I don't know why I hadn't thought of Craigslist... I have seen 'bonded pairs' on there before and I even found my roo on there. Post some pictures and the sincere story of your two attached youngins. I am sure you would be able to find someone to home the two of them. It still wouldn't hurt to inquire at the feed store (who knows maybe the clerk you are speaking to would want them) and see how they feel/react to the situation.

 

[Shell1981]

Thanks guys! I decided to keep them both quite a bit longer (maybe a couple more months or so). The new red star pullets are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I'll see how the bigger kids deal with them. I think Ethel will take to them well. I'll put up a cragislist ad when "Lucy" (we're now calling him "Rucifee" like one of the little mice calls the evil step mother's cat "Lucifer" in Cinderella

) and if the two are still crazy about each other, I'll put them up for sale as a pair to a good home. If Ethel does OK with the other girls, I'll just re-home Rucifee. I can't become any more attached to him then I am now, so it's going to be difficult either way. I'm going to post new photos of the two chicks on the EE Braggers thread. They're now going on 5 weeks old.

 

[Heat]

Thanks for the update!! I hope Ethel takes well to the Red Stars. Keep us posted

Going to check out your pictures now!