To keep new rooster?

[ray6082]

Our neighbors (about five houses down) lost all but one of their chickens to predators. Their rooster kept coming into our yard and I tried shooing him back and he just kept coming back. I finally went over to talk to them because I couldn’t have mine out and this random rooster coming over causing chaos/blood shed.

Well, she said since they lost all of theirs they were going to take him to the auction but I said if I could catch him I might keep him.

1. I have him in a chicken tractor, do you think he will attract predators? Mine are in a secure run/coops have had no issues.
2. Can I quarantine him in there outside near my chickens so they can be near one another? If so, what should I look for? I checked for lice and he seems fine.
3. He’s not used to being in a run as much as he would be with me. I can’t have the chickens out without me home because they’ll ruin the neighbors’ landscaping. Do you think he would adapt? I honestly think he kept coming back to our yard because we had chickens.
4. What breed is he? He seems WAY friendlier than my precious lav Orpington rooster. This one didn’t crow ONCE the whole time we were trying to catch him and didn’t show any aggression.
THANK YOU!

 

[neo71665]

Chickens in general attract predators.
Sounds like he has already been around your birds so I would do the look no touch method
He will adapt and yes chickens are social animals. He lost his flock so he was looking to rebuild it
Not an expert on breeds

 

[aart]

Do you need (or want) a male bird?

 

[ray6082]

Do you need (or want) a male bird?

I don’t think you would ever need one unless breeding, however, yes I want one for protection while they’re free ranging. I’ve had a rooster before and he flogged me constantly, but he protected my girls. I rehomed him. I will do the same with this one if he doesn’t seem like a good fit.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. I have him in a chicken tractor, do you think he will attract predators? Mine are in a secure run/coops have had no issues.

It depends on how secure your tractor is. That's a question for your judgement.

2. Can I quarantine him in there outside near my chickens so they can be near one another? If so, what should I look for? I checked for lice and he seems fine.

Quarantine can be a very long topic. If he has already been with your flock it's too late. If he is near your others it is not a good quarantine. Since diseases can spread through the air the further apart the better the quarantine. Most of us are not set up to do a good job of it. If he has been visiting your property it is basically too late.

3. He’s not used to being in a run as much as he would be with me. I can’t have the chickens out without me home because they’ll ruin the neighbors’ landscaping. Do you think he would adapt? I honestly think he kept coming back to our yard because we had chickens.

If you keep him confined with them for a while he should adapt. Or he will start leading them astray. It's hard to predict what behaviors he will show.

4. What breed is he?

To me he looks like a red rooster from a hatchery. Could be different things. If you have to call him something call him a Production Red, it's as close as anything else.

 

[ray6082]

Chickens in general attract predators.
Sounds like he has already been around your birds so I would do the look no touch method
He will adapt and yes

It depends on how secure your tractor is. That's a question for your judgement.


Quarantine can be a very long topic. If he has already been with your flock it's too late. If he is near your others it is not a good quarantine. Since diseases can spread through the air the further apart the better the quarantine. Most of us are not set up to do a good job of it. If he has been visiting your property it is basically too late.


If you keep him confined with them for a while he should adapt. Or he will start leading them astray. It's hard to predict what behaviors he will show.


To me he looks like a red rooster from a hatchery. Could be different things. If you have to call him something call him a Production Red, it's as close as anything else.

Thank you so much for your thorough response! That was my initial fear and why I was getting angry that the neighbors weren’t watching their chickens. He had traveled quite a far way seeing as they are five houses down. I did move the tractor a decent way away and would have liked it in the garage but my boyfriend is pretty sick of chickens in the garage. I’m praying he’s healthy because I haven’t lost any chickens in two years and would hate for it to be because one roamed on my property.