Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[bruceha2000]

He's definitely not gentle- I'm guessing he weighs 15 lbs too.

15 pounds??? What breed of mutant chicken is he? Even Jersey Giant roosters don't weigh 15 pounds.

If he is a desirable breed you might find someone looking for a rooster of that breed. Sadly, most of the time roosters don't go to "live your natural 'years long' life here" homes.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Aaron, it was an honest mistake. Neither you or Alice should beat yourselves up. This issue raises the concern to me that teflon bulbs are sold and used. They may not be lethal to people, but, IMO the chicken, and the pet birds that they do kill are like the canaries in the coal mine. They alert us that there are invisible toxins being released by hot teflon.

X2

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Integration can be accomplished - it isn’t too difficult as long as you don’t attempt to reinvent the procedures that have been shown to work over time. Here is a link to my thread regarding my integration of 6 younger pullets to a cockerel and pullet 2 months older. The procedures would apply to your situation.
Integration

 

[Ruralhideaway]

@AaronandAlice I'm sad to hear the last hen died. Don't beat yourselves up. They had a good life wth you and that's more than so many chickens ever get.

I would be devastated though. Just the missing them would be terrible, never mind having one lonely rooster. Awful. This winter will pass, things will be good again.

 

[AaronandAlice]

15 pounds??? What breed of mutant chicken is he? Even Jersey Giant roosters don't weigh 15 pounds.

If he is a desirable breed you might find someone looking for a rooster of that breed. Sadly, most of the time roosters don't go to "live your natural 'years long' life here" homes.

He's a partridge cochin. We had 4 jersey giants and he was 3-4 inches taller than them.
He is similar to this one:

 

[Hamiam]

He's a partridge cochin. We had 4 jersey giants and he was 3-4 inches taller than them.
He is similar to this one:
View attachment 1228962

I agree with @aart, hopefully you can find someone that wants a beautiful rooster. Start fresh in the spring.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Integration can be accomplished - it isn’t too difficult as long as you don’t attempt to reinvent the procedures that have been shown to work over time. Here is a link to my thread regarding my integration of 6 younger pullets to a cockerel and pullet 2 months older. The procedures would apply to your situation.
Integration

We did integrate the 2 buff orpingtons to the rest of the flock when they were about 3-4 months old. I kept them in an x-lg dog crate inside the run for a little while, then the others got used to them being their enough that they no longer pounced on them when they were mingled. I just worry about him squishing a smaller breed.

 

[bruceha2000]

He's a big one for sure then! Cochins don't usually run that heavy.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

@Nifty-Chicken Rob, can we create a sticky on the dangers of Teflon?

Sure, it could be an article, a new thread, or a link to this thread added here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/helpful-references-links.112920/

 

[TwoCrows]

Sure, it could be an article, a new thread, or a link to this thread added here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/helpful-references-links.112920/

Thanks Rob!,

@BantyChooks has volunteered to write an article too.