Seperate housing?

[Loghousemom]

Hey all! Another question from a newbie to chickens here....

I have 5 hens. We picked them up in May and they are all growing so well.

Here is the situation : I have a cousin who also picked up a few chicks back in May. One of hers started crowing last week, and she lives in a subdivision where a rooster would not be allowed. I have 15 acres and a good size coop (12x25). With about 3 times that for a fenced run. At the far end of that run is another little white shed that I believe the previous property owners used to house rabbits. Would keeping the rooster in his own house be better than keeping him in with the hens? I know the Roos are supposed to protect the hens, and so keeping them seperate would make that difficult. Would he be happier living with the hens? Would there be anything special I would have to do?

I am not really keen on having chicks rit now with winter destined to come soon, so if I had a rooster, what does that do for eggs? Would they even be edible? Do you think it would be difficult for my 6 yr old to get eggs from the chickens if we had the rooster too? She is super excited for this to be her "helping chore". That she and mommy do together.....

I have not yet decided if taking in the poor unfortunate rooster is best... And I was thinking if we ended up with a roo we would have kept him, so I don't really mind taking him in, plus who can not love a handsome fella strutting around the yard?

 

[aoxa]

He will fertilize the eggs and they don't need to hatch. They don't taste any different.

Why would you house him separately? He will be SO much more happy with the girls.

 

[Loghousemom]

I don't know. I honest have zero chicken experience and I wasn't sure if he would need to be with them or not. It was actually a suggestion of my husband that we put him separate.

We have the extra shed. All it needs is new hinges for the door and i suppose a roost inside. It would only require me extending the run fence about 10 feet to have both houses opening to the same run.

I also have three daughters aged 5 and under who are out in the coop with me for chores. I am concerned with the rooster becoming aggressive towafterthought after reading some stories here. I would feel terrible if I had to make him dinner, but I am prepared for that if need be.

I also do not want him wearing out the hens either. (there are only 5) but I am planning for some additions to the flock next spring if all goes well this winter. I have also read here about roosters getting aggressive to the hens when there are small flocks.

.....I know I have probably just done too much reading and am overwhelming myself, but I am hoping to avoid problems by preparing for the situations that may happen. Maybe I will start him with the rest of the hens and see how it goes and extend the fence just in case the additional house is necessary. Everyone loves these chickens like they have been here forever, and I know the girls would be broken hearted if they couldn't go out there because of a rooster.