What Does His Behavior Mean?

[Nonny]

I'm not sure that having brief one-to-one "dates" is the way to integrate him, it could just be stressing him out. Plus if you separate them at the first sign of trouble you are not letting them sort it out themselves.

Have you ever been the new kid in class? It's far easier being able to sit back in a safe space and watch the way the playground works before trying to fit in.

Are you able to divide the run so that he can be out and about within sight of the others but without them being able to get to each other physically? That way he would get to see them as a flock where he can learn the group dynamic and see what the pecking order is with no pressure, in a place where each can get away to a safe place if needed. Make it at feeding time, or throw down a handful of treats so they are all more interested in the food than in the newcomer. Doing this daily would get them all used to each others presence, and also help get him used to the outside conditions. After a while they should pretty much be used to each other and then you can try having them in all the run together.

 

[keesmom]

You should put him in the crate and leave him in the main run for a few days for them to get used to each other. Constantly moving him around, putting him in with all different birds is only going to stress them all out. He needs flock mates, not play mates. He's a chicken and not a human. Chicken society is much different. They need to establish a pecking order then all will be happy. Moving birds all over the place prevents that from happening. Stepping in before they can work it out is also preventing that from happening. It's not always easy to watch but that's the way they are.

 

[ClareScifi]

I don't really see the point, though, since I'm going to be giving the other roosters away soon, and I won't be getting any more? Just to get pecked and pecked and then suddenly to become the head of the Pecking order when those other roosters go? Couldn't that stress him out unduly, too?

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Its important to realize that just because he is the only Rooster doesn't mean that he will the head chicken, A head hen can be just as bossy. So if you think that he will automatically go to the top, it might not happen. In the first place a hen has to "Respect" the rooster, for that to happen he has to prove himself he has to get the hens to submit to him (meaning he will drag a hen around to force her to the ground so he can get on her) and there ARE going to be fights because most hens aren't going to just bow down for him. And A hen can put up a fight too. A Rooster has to earn his Place in the pecking order just like the hens, Like I said before, he is your Roo, you asked for advice and we are all giving you what you asked for and most of us agree that the best thing for him is to put him in with the other Chickens slowly and safely. I think you are doing him an injustice by keeping him separated. And you are doing a further injust to the ones you are going to take out of their already est. flock family just so they will have to get abused all over again in the spring, because they will have to rebuild the pecking order. Oh well

Do what you feel is right. I do wish you the best of luck.

 

[ClareScifi]

I never had a choice in the matter on keeping all of these chickens. The eggs were given to me by my neighbor, with the understanding he wanted most of the hatched chicks sent up to his son's farm, where the eggs came from, after they were raised by their StepMama. He ordered the eggs from his son's farm when I was away on vacation, and I had this surprise thrust on me upon my return from vacation. The hen's sister (her only flock mate from hatching) had died while I was on vacation because (I think) she wasn't let out into the deep shade and given watermelon on a very hot day.

I debated bringing in new adult hens to be the surviving hen's winter flock mates but was cautioned they could introduce disease and might not get along, so hatching eggs seemed the best option (lower chance of disease introduction and a higher likelihood the StepMama would bond with the baby chicks), with the understanding I would keep 2 new hens for the adult stepmama's mates, once the chicks were raised. (One hen chick is a back-up, in case another dies, and I am back to scratch).

I live in the city, and there is a limit on the number of chickens allowed. It remains to be seen whether the one rooster will even be allowed to remain, depending upon whether the neighbors complain about his crowing. I was told I could keep the rooster who was almost pecked to death, only recently, if the neighbors don't complain about his noise.

By the way, my hens seemed very happy when it was only the 2 of them. I read that hens prefer to be in flocks of 3 or more, but those girls were very happy being just the 2. You could see that in their demeanor and play. That is all they had ever known.

I don't think my hen seems happier having this flock of several. If anything, she seems more burdened, less carefree. I miss seeing her enjoy the independence she had with her sister. There were no roosters around, and how they enjoyed their free-ranging together. Now the hen rarely free-ranges. She is too worried about staying near the chicks. When she does get out to free-range, she will spread her wings and run and run and look blissful. But when she goes back to the chicks, it is like the drudgery has set in again. LOL.

The chicks have been fun, but if I had it to do over again, I think I'd just bring in a couple of adult hens for my surviving hen to have for company. My priority has been saving the life of the badly pecked rooster, but it looks like it has all backfired, because I didn't know about these potential problems. Oh, well. As I say, this was all dropped in my lap. I did the best I could, lacking the knowledge required. I do appreciate your insights and help.

 

[ClareScifi]

Hi, Linn Bee!

Fun to run into you here in this group! Speaking of gardening, a friend in another chicken group I'm in sent me a message saying oats are a great thing to grow indoors in my solarium for my Rooster. She said it's the same type of seed as Cat Grass. She said it grows fast and chickens love it Have you ever grown it for your chickens? I think I'll give it a try. Anyone know where I could find a good deal on a whole bunch of these seeds this time of year? Last summer I got my chooks some grain mats, but they didn't seem to really care for them much. I think they were planted with millet, though, not oats.

 

[ClareScifi]

Also, can anyone suggest a place I could buy a Dog Crate at a good price? I am on a limited budget. I've never had dogs, only cats, so I'm not sure where to look? Would Walmart have them? A farm store? I don't have the energy to make a ton of phone calls of inquiry, so if anyone can suggest a good place to find one, I'd really appreciate your help?

 

[keesmom]

It doesn't have to be a crate. It seems you're into gardening, so do you have extra fencing around to divide the run?

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
Its important to realize that just because he is the only Rooster doesn't mean that he will the head chicken, A head hen can be just as bossy. So if you think that he will automatically go to the top, it might not happen. In the first place a hen has to "Respect" the rooster, for that to happen he has to prove himself he has to get the hens to submit to him (meaning he will drag a hen around to force her to the ground so he can get on her) and there ARE going to be fights because most hens aren't going to just bow down for him. And A hen can put up a fight too. A Rooster has to earn his Place in the pecking order just like the hens, Like I said before, he is your Roo, you asked for advice and we are all giving you what you asked for and most of us agree that the best thing for him is to put him in with the other Chickens slowly and safely. I think you are doing him an injustice by keeping him separated. And you are doing a further injust to the ones you are going to take out of their already est. flock family just so they will have to get abused all over again in the spring, because they will have to rebuild the pecking order. Oh well

Do what you feel is right. I do wish you the best of luck.

Yep. Especially when the roo is younger than the hens you are putting him in with. My cockerel has been integrated for 2 months and is still not even the beta rooster. (only have 2 roos). At least half of the girls are higher in the pecking order than he is

He's bigger than them all too! Little girls can really control a big man

He might be named Jagger, but he doesn't quite have the moves like him yet

 

[ClareScifi]

I just now talked with someone who said he can divide the run for me. But he's always backlogged with chores, so I'm not sure how soon he can do it. I'll try to get him going on it. :>) That would be a good idea to try.

It's so cold and windy the chooks aren't coming out of the coop today, so I don't think I'll take my Roo outside today. It's only 49 F in the solarium. Horrible winds here today. Those drafts are bad for chooks, I've heard.

I was overprotected as a child, after my only brother died in a car wreck. So it would make sense that I live what I learn and have overprotected my little Roo. :>)