Should I evict my rooster?

[2 chiks n a roo]

What kind of games do you play with rooster or with chickens? I'd love to learn more about that.

with Rhodey I pick him up an walk to one end of the run an let him fly away. We have little games of tag when he crows outside, he knows the rules, crow an get put back inside. He's good most days. We have a game of tag around a tree which he knows I can't get under. When I walk away he comes out until I turn back to him then he takes off running.
Other little games are holding up a paper cup of his sunflower seeds so he has to jump to get them.
There's a compost bin in their run an he often sits on it an try to hide from me (pic below)
He lets me pick him up off it an carry him around.
He's such a kewl dude. Has a sore toe at the moment cos his nails too long. He lets me trim them an massage his feet. As long as he gets cuddles and treats I can do anything with him

 

[McChooky]

I live in a city and I'm only allowed to own 4 backyard chickens. I have 3 hens that have been laying eggs since February. I also have a young chicken that will be joining the other 3 soon. It was a tiny chick that two little boys brought to my back door which they found unattended.

I just thought my hens were upset without the rooster they had known all their lives. Maybe another rooster would cheer them up.
ou around
It's really a joy to go into the coop without being afraid of that big rooster that always scared me a bit.

They are only upset over his absence because chickens don't like change. They need a little more time to adjust to him being gone before they can relax and be happy again. They would thank you if they could.Trust me they are glad he's gone!

 

[NatJ]

What is broody jail?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/
This article talks about it.

 

[koko365]

with Rhodey I pick him up an walk to one end of the run an let him fly away. We have little games of tag when he crows outside, he knows the rules, crow an get put back inside. He's good most days. We have a game of tag around a tree which he knows I can't get under. When I walk away he comes out until I turn back to him then he takes off running.
Other little games are holding up a paper cup of his sunflower seeds so he has to jump to get them.
There's a compost bin in their run an he often sits on it an try to hide from me (pic below)
He lets me pick him up off it an carry him around.
He's such a kewl dude. Has a sore toe at the moment cos his nails too long. He lets me trim them an massage his feet. As long as he gets cuddles and treats I can do anything with him

Oh that is wonderful! Thank you for explaining some of them to me. I really do appreciate that. I have a pet dog, pet cats indoor only, several feral cats that I feed and have had neutered and spayed with the catch and release program as well as an Amazon parrot and another rescued bird.... I don't spend nearly enough time with my chickens. And I had never really thought about playing with them. Other than giving them food and talking with them and petting them sometimes, they always seem more annoyed with me.

 

[koko365]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/
This article talks about it.

Thank you. Going to read it now!

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Oh that is wonderful! Thank you for explaining some of them to me. I really do appreciate that. I have a pet dog, pet cats indoor only, several feral cats that I feed and have had neutered and spayed with the catch and release program as well as an Amazon parrot and another rescued bird.... I don't spend nearly enough time with my chickens. And I had never really thought about playing with them. Other than giving them food and talking with them and petting them sometimes, they always seem more annoyed with me.

Mine think they're humans..
Every time I go out to feed the girls, I get climbed over, literally!! I've got scratches on my legs where they jump on me for cuddles. And as soon as I say the word 'mash'.. it's all on! They have pushed me over by barging back to their food dishes.
I've got lots of bulk feeders, but because I haven't got a actual coop yet, they have covered XL dog crates under a massive shelter with food and perch.
Last night was So windy they must have been scared cos I came out to a load of feathers everywhere. Poor girls were clutching their egg-butts until I gave them cuddles and hot mash. I was hoping to catch them in the act dropping their hot bum pops.
Quite often all 5 sit on the perch an plop the hot bum pops, I want to get a pic of them but it's all timing and the dogs staying quiet.

I've got 2 indoor cats, 1 outdoor who spends a lot of time with the chooks, including Rhodey. An 2 dogs. Even though the girls are in one of the dog runs, with the dogs beside them, they've been bought up with the barking an racing around, chains rattling etc. I spend a huge part of my time with my chickens, sometimes more than the dogs. Other than mumma hen an Rhodey, I've raised all of mine from incubation so they're super friendly.
Even the chicks I've sold are cuddly and look for attention.. even the very first boy which sold at 12wks old.. he's way bigger than his daddy and Totally different colour.
When you have time, make a cuppa, go out to your chooks, sit on a seat and watch them, how they act, talk etc. I mimic Rhodey, his sounds etc, I don't know if he understands what it all is, but I know chickens can learn a 100 words, I'm pretty sure roosters can learn more. Oh, when you go out to sit with them.. remember to take a cup full of treats, wheat, rolled oats, rice, (rosemary rice is a big hit) sunflower seeds, crushed cat kibble, crushed peanuts, pumpkin seeds etc.. to name a few.. oh.. mealy worms.. my boy goes Nuts over those.. and bread, broken into tiny bits. Those are His treats, none of the others.
In my opinion, having something special just for him, shows him he's special to me and I know he respects me completely Roosters have the ability to love someone who shows them love...

Looks like it was fright night..

 

[koko365]

I didn't realize chickens could understand 100 words. rooster's more. Mine were all sweet when they were young and I had spent time with them then, (and did love that rooster), until he was starting to make me fearful. I think he was getting more territorial with the feral rooster hanging around outside their coop. The two roosters were having crowing duels and it was almost all the time). They would sort of dance back and forth and fake charge t each other thru the coop wire..and then I would go in daily with food, water and treats and my rooster would come at me sideways...and I'd have to hold up a metal pie plate as a sort of shield. I sorta feel guilty for letting him go, but i also feel so much better now going into the coop without being afraid. I'm nearly a stranger to my 3 hens now because I wasn't going in with him intimidating me so much. All 4 had grown up together so ... ? (I don't want to be sad... just hope he is happier and has more room and more hens now).

I would love to learn how you or others make mash? I searched for it on this site but haven't found any references yet. I had made lentil sprouts for them but they were more of a new curiosity to the girls rather than a hit. I'll try your other suggestions.

I put my Silkie or Slipper-chichen into broody jail for 24 hours then let her out of jail late this afternoon, She enjoyed a nice dust bath, but it looks like she went back to the broody basket in the chicken house tonight. I might have to put her back in broody jail again tomorrow and go for the full 48 hours this time.

I hope to get reacquainted with my girls again and hope they will become more friendly with me again over time. All three really need baths since we have had a lot of rain lately and the floor of their coop or run is just dirt outside.

I still have so much to learn. :]

 

[NatJ]

I would love to learn how you or others make mash? I searched for it on this site but haven't found any references yet.

Chicken food + water

You can use pelleted or crumbled chicken food, the same stuff the chickens eat at any other time. You can change the water temperature so the mash is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Even if the chickens have dry food available all the time, and water available all the time, they usually get very excited about the food being wet. Maybe just because it's a little different?

Some people add other ingredients too, but I think I get just as much excitement from the chickens with the plain version.

 

[thistlewick]

I thought culling meant kill too!

It does;

cull​

1 of 2

verb​

ˈkəl

culled; culling; culls
Synonyms of cull
transitive verb
1
: to select from a group : choose
culled the best passages from the poet's work

Damaged fruits are culled before the produce is shipped.


2
: to reduce or control the size of (something, such as a herd) by removal (as by hunting or slaughter) of especially weak or sick individuals
The town issued hunting licenses in order to cull the deer population.

culling a herd of cattle

also : to hunt or kill (individuals) for culling
culling diseased cows

culled hundreds of deer


But the first definition in BOLD, also just means what was described. A way to separate.

 

[FrostRanger]

It can mean remove although nowadays most people use it to mean to put down. When I say cull I mean to put down as well although some certainly mean to remove by any means as well