When to give my roo to a friend?

MarlaMac

Songster
Aug 14, 2022
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Central Texas
I just got confirmation on the what is it forum that this 30 day old chick is a cockerel. Here is the back story.

He/she is a little beat up b/c mom left it at 3.5 weeks old and the flock started picking on it. Only noticed it after a couple of days. Getting better, but it did have some open wounds which are healing. Separated it from the flock in a cage within the pen and it comes out when I am there to encourage and protect it. Rooster Cogburn does a little to protect, but not too much. I think it is b/c it is so antsy trying to find/stay with mom it invites others to try to chase it. Does fine in the coop at night with the flock. It was a lone hatch from one of our girls so it has no friends which is sad. Trying to get mom with two babies to accept it; slow process, but she is better today than she was 3 days ago.

I have a friend with 20 pullets that wants a roo. Her pullets are about 6-7 weeks old. I am wondering what age is the best to give her this little guy. Will he be okay if she took him now, or would it be better to let him go at 6, 7 or 8 weeks? She has Rhode Island Reds and Easter Eggers.

Also, if I keep him for a while, at what point will our rooster start to see him as a threat and beat him up, or will he?

Thank you for your kind replies.
 

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I just got confirmation on the what is it forum that this 30 day old chick is a cockerel. Here is the back story.

He/she is a little beat up b/c mom left it at 3.5 weeks old and the flock started picking on it. Only noticed it after a couple of days. Getting better, but it did have some open wounds which are healing. Separated it from the flock in a cage within the pen and it comes out when I am there to encourage and protect it. Rooster Cogburn does a little to protect, but not too much. I think it is b/c it is so antsy trying to find/stay with mom it invites others to try to chase it. Does fine in the coop at night with the flock. It was a lone hatch from one of our girls so it has no friends which is sad. Trying to get mom with two babies to accept it; slow process, but she is better today than she was 3 days ago.

I have a friend with 20 pullets that wants a roo. Her pullets are about 6-7 weeks old. I am wondering what age is the best to give her this little guy. Will he be okay if she took him now, or would it be better to let him go at 6, 7 or 8 weeks? She has Rhode Island Reds and Easter Eggers.

Also, if I keep him for a while, at what point will our rooster start to see him as a threat and beat him up, or will he?

Thank you for your kind replies.
Sounds like it would be best for your little guy to go to his new home as soon as possible and get used to his new friends.😊
 
Trying to get mom with two babies to accept it; slow process, but she is better today than she was 3 days ago.
Have I got this right, you're trying to get a hen with two other chicks/youngsters who isn't his mother to adopt this orphan rooster?
The not mother with the two chicks is looking like she might accept him?
 
Have I got this right, you're trying to get a hen with two other chicks/youngsters who isn't his mother to adopt this orphan rooster?
The not mother with the two chicks is looking like she might accept him?
Yes. You got that right. The mother is more tolerant of the lone baby, but not accepting - she lets him lay close, but doesn't include him in her little circle and will still chase him away if he gets too close. Too close now is about 1/2 foot, where it use to be 6 feet. I am just trying to get the baby acclimated so that not everyone is picking on him. But, not worries, my friend is going to take him for her 20 pullets - he will have quite the life. We are meeting up in the next couple of days. :)
 
Yes. You got that right. The mother is more tolerant of the lone baby, but not accepting - she lets him lay close, but doesn't include him in her little circle and will still chase him away if he gets too close. Too close now is about 1/2 foot, where it use to be 6 feet. I am just trying to get the baby acclimated so that not everyone is picking on him. But, not worries, my friend is going to take him for her 20 pullets - he will have quite the life. We are meeting up in the next couple of days. :)
It's just you mentioned hanging on to him for a while and I would be fascinated to read what happens. If I had the room and the coop space I would wait and see if the hen will take him on. If she does, you have a new tribe possibly.
I've had a couple of orphan roosters in the past which none of the other tribes would take on which I looked out for for a few months until they got accepted by some hens as adults.
 

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