The newest member of our flock....

[WthrLady]

I must have lost my mind. I swore I'd not get a rooster. I didn't want/need fertilized eggs, or have the hens bothered. But I'm in the country, and I love the look and sound of a rooster. I also know he'll warn of airborne predators. Well today I brought home a six month old brown leghorn rooster today. He is sweet, loves to be held (raised by a 6 and 4 year old girl), and he's gorgeous!.

He has his own house and small run and is in full quarantine away from the hens for two full weeks. Then he can free range his legs off. He is also being treated, as a precaution, for worms and mites.

He is beautiful.

The previous owner had a batch of spring chicks, and an oopsie surprise rooster.

She pampered them silly, but was looking at huge fines from the city zoning. He was totally free range and just slept wherever.
I had to pluck him from our yard and put him in his house and on his perch. He didn't know he was supposed to be in there. I think he was totally asleep when I moved him, he was like a blob of dough. lol. Bless him.

We named him Scout.


So rooster upkeep, what magical issues do I need to know?

 

[Folly's place]

If he came from a healthy group, you should be fine. Quarantine for four weeks, then let him out with the girls. He needs to learn about roosting in the coop, not outside, or he'll have a short life. Hope he works out for you! I always have roosters, it's part of having a complete flock. Mary

 

[WthrLady]

One month it is!

 

[aart]

We need some pics of this handsome cock!
How many hens do you have?



Here's some good links about bio quarantine.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

 

[WthrLady]

Currently 3, but six more and 100 sq foot new coop in April.

 

[WthrLady]

First two links are dead, but the third has me terrified.

Now I guess I worry for the next 30 days,eh? Great.

I already told ds that I'm the one to take care of scout. He has all his own supplies as well down to coop cleaning things.

Guess all I can do it love him and watch him.

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: "First two links are dead, but the third has me terrified."

I'm perplexed. Have you had 2 birds die since bringing Scout home???

 

[aart]

First two links are dead, but the third has me terrified.

Now I guess I worry for the next 30 days,eh? Great.

I already told ds that I'm the one to take care of scout. He has all his own supplies as well down to coop cleaning things.

Guess all I can do it love him and watch him.

Take it all with a grain of salt and a large dash of common sense.

Not sure why links are not working, thanks for letting me know, but I did copy and paste from a word document where I keep my notes.

Here's the first one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...often-underestimated-part-of-raising-chickens

Second link worked for me...but here it is again:
http://www.thefancychick.com/PoultryBiosecurity.html

 

[WthrLady]

Lol. No. No one is dead. The internet links provided above.
I even have separate clothes and shoes in a rooster section of the upper garage instead of the common barn.

Boy and I make a separate electric fence area away from the hen area to protect his coop and run this morning.

He will care for hens and I the rooster.

If i walk the hens, it will mean a change of clothes and shoes and coat and gloves.


Good thing I am an OCD.

 

[WthrLady]

[COLOR=333333]Quote:  "First two links are dead,
but the third has me terrified."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]I'm perplexed.  Have you had 2 birds die since bringing Scout home???[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]
[/COLOR]
 

nope. Broken net links above