Update - Is This Just Submissive Beta Rooster Behavior?

[thailand]

Just had an idea. What about if I kept the boys together at night and just moved the hen to new accommodation?
You know, the barn is right below my bedroom window and I never ever hear any fighting?

 

[chickensbythesea]

Quote:
A whole boatload usually. They don't see them as family, or potential mates at that age. Especially in that you don't want them running the girls ragged, you'd need to get a lot too, a good ratio is about 10 hens per rooster. If western chickens are so hard to find, you might be able to sell him for a decent bit, since he's grown at least!

Also, DON'T try your thought of isolating the beta boy for periods of time, unless it's full time. The more time the alpha gets alone with his hen, the more protective he's going to become of her, and the more aggressive he'll be to another rooster moving in on his lady.
From everything I have seen, once 2 boys decide they're unhappy with each other, that's the end of their friendship. It starts out how you're describing it, but be prepared for some bloodshed if you don't do something relatively soon. Not a guarantee of it happening, but a likelihood anyways

EDIT: Leaving the boys alone won't help either, especially if they can still see the hen

 

[thailand]

Ok,

Our poor beta roo was attacked in front of me again this morning. It never looks to be anything major at all, but clearly he is feeling stressed! So - I've let the other two outside to free-range in the front part of our property, and sectioned off the back half for him to range in. I've fed him separately and thankfully he had a huge appetite. I now think that the alpha has maybe been preventing the beta from eating at night too (I keep food and water available at all times).

My beta (his name is Aramis) is now by himself (the cats are sitting with him for company) and he seems happy enough, although not walking much, mostly just sitting.

I've talked with my husband about this situation, and he has suggested (thanks to lynnemabry and cloverleaf for your ideas here) that we should go ahead and get Aramis is own hen. What we can do is clean up an old coop (chain-link dog kennel) and set it up in the barn for Aramis and his new lady.

So - can someone please walk me through how to go about this. I'll see if I can get a pullet today if possible, but what age would be best? Also, I'll obviously have to separate the new girl for a while to make sure she isn't carrying any diseases etc. My questions are: 1) how long should I separate her for? and 2) I can put her in a large wire dog crate. Should I put this next to my beta's new cage?

I can't think of any further questions regarding this right now, but I'm sure I'll have more along the way.

Please help me to get this right

Thanks so much for your expertise.....so appreciated on this side of the world.

Kind regards,

 

[PtldChick]

Quote:
Do beta boy's hens need to be western chickens? I'd just get him a few local young (4mo-1 yr) hens that look, sound and feel healthy (clean, shiny feathers, no little bugs on them, no raspy breathing when you listen to their chest, no sneezing or runny goop around their eys and nose, kept in clean conditions), quarantine them until you know they're healthy, and then let him have his girls. He won't care what they are. If all you're trying to do is keep both roos and keep the peace, that would work fine. You can let the dominant roo breed brahmas with the brahma hen, if that's what you want.

That will give you time to find more brahma chicks or grow your own. The dominant roo's chicks would be better off in the pen with beta boy (genetically), then his chicks could be added to alpha's pen.

 

[thailand]

Hi Everyone,

Just an update.

Thanks PtldChick. I went to my source today to ask about some chicks and unfortunately all their chicks are only 2-3 weeks old at the moment. So - we'll just have to be patient and wait a little while. Hopefully they won't all sell quickly and we'll be left with some girls to choose. I'd prefer to wait rather than risking ending up with more roos!
He'll be ok on his own for about 8-12 weeks right?

In the meantime my rooster will have time to completely recover and get himself 100% healthy. I'm taking him to the vets tomorrow. I've posted elsewhere on this forum about him as he still isn't walking properly and I'm getting worried. After researching numerous possibilities, even the dreaded Mareks!!, I convinced myself that he's just simply injured his legs somehow. He's a real trouper and has been making many attempts today to both stand for longer and longer periods of time and also to walk more often. I've kept him separated from the others. He's spent most of today sitting in the barn with the rabbits (he sits and chats with them ALL day long! LOL). The hen did stop by his dog crate tonight for a chat with him which seemed to perk him up no end. But for the last two nights now he's been locked up in his hospital cage within talking distance of the others only.

He's very alert, eating and drinking well, and 'honking' heaps.

Thanks everyone for your very helpful responses.

I've added a photo of my 3 chickens (proud mama).

Alpha Roo

Beta Roo

Hen

blessings

 

[Tiss]

Oh they're beautiful. I think your beta will be okay on his own until his ladies grow up. If you end up not being able to get more western girls for him, some local hens may be a good option in the interim.

Please let us know what the vet is. I hope his issues are just from the abuse he's taken.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Just a note on quarantine...the new hen(s) should be kept as far from your birds as possible for about 30 days. (Feed/water her last, etc to keep from cross-contaminating). Then you can introduce them.

 

[thailand]

Thanks Tiss...I just LOVE my Brahmas. (Boy - I am SO biased!!!). LOL. I've never had chickens before these ones, and now I'm thinking why on earth not???!! These guys are my puppy dogs - they come running across the yard when I call them and follow me everywhere. They are so funny.

Thanks Cloverleaf too. Just got back from the vets a short while ago. The vet took xrays and decided that he has a calcium deficiency and/or possibly hurt himself jumping down from something. Anyway, the best of news of ever

he has discounted Mareks! Yaay!! He gave him a shot of anti-inflammatory/pain killer and 3 hours later he is walking around as if nothing has ever been wrong with his legs!!! He's got tablets to take for the next 4-5 days too. The upshot is the vet thinks I need to change his diet. He says he is eating too much and is growing too quickly....his legs can't keep up with the size of his body. So here's the plan:

Layer feed + unhulled rice + bird seed as the mainstay diet. I can still add the usual treats to this diet e.g. yoghurt, boiled egg, rolled oats (though need to cut back), boiled pumpkin. The chickens free-range from morning till dusk for extra protein. (Anyone any opinions on this diet plan??). Actually, can I please ask a question - I'm in the habit of giving free-choice layer feed and water 24/7. Do others do this too? Should I take the feed away at night?

Also - I've ordered 3 new 2-3 week old chicks!

I choose them/pick them up tonight. Hopefully I'm a lot more knowledgeable this time around and am better at choosing girls!! No more boys please or else they will definately be dinner!!! (We will NOT be naming these babies till we know the sex for sure!). These ones will be kept in a totally different building to the exisiting chickens for at least 30 days. Thanks for the reminder Cloverleaf.

Thanks so much for your help everyone. I LOVE that I can connect with other chicken lovers across the other side of the world and tap into your wealth of experience/expertise!

Blessings

 

[thailand]

Update:

Brought the new babies home. Oh wow.....don't know if my ability to choose girls is any better this time around either. Until further notice their names are breakfast, lunch and dinner and WE WILL NOT LOVE THEM in case they are boys and we need to eat them! (Oh.......soooooooooooooooo cute and loveable) LOL

Here's photos. I'm gonna post these photos on the gender thread to see what people think - boys or girls.

Chick A

Chick B

Chick C

 

[greenSearcher]

Grown chickens don't need food and water during the sleeping hours. My birds don't have access to food or water once they are in the coop at dusk. We let them out shortly after sunrise, so they are not spending hours in the coop hungry and thirsty, and the food is in the run, and the water is outside the run. Usually, since chickens don't see well in the dark, once it is dark they won't eat or drink until daylight. I don't have lights in my coops so they are really dark at night.