Can a Roo live alone?

[AngieB]

We need to get rid of our roo because he's agressive and I have little kids.

My retired stepdad said he will tak him and try keeping him as a pet. They have a privacy fence around their backyard where he will free range during the day, and he will put him in a crate in the basement at night.

Since he's retired, and he loves animals, he will spend lots of time with him. But I know chickens are social animals. What will a rooster do with no flock? Will he be miserable? Will he be less agressive since there are no ladies to defend?

Will he be confused if he doens't have an official coop and sleeps in a crate at night?

Thanks,
Angie

 

[mamaKate]

I have 2 hens who sleep in a crate at night. I put some parakeet seed in it and they have a fit at the back door if I'm late to let them in. I put treat outside in the morning so I don't have to argue with them about going out. I think he'll adapt to being the only chicken. I'm not sure about the aggression. Give it a try and see if it works.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

do your dad a favor and cull the aggressive rooster. they are nothin but problems and alot of um are incouragable ...........give him a young tame one............and yes they can live alone just fine.

 

[AngieB]

Well, since step-dad is a hunter, the plan was that he would "take care" of any roosters for us that we couldn't keep. We were just very attached to this little roo until he started trying to protect the flock. "Vanilla" is not agressive when being held and stroked, only when we get between him and his flock.

I am thinking with no flock, and step-dad hand-feeding him treats, maybe it will work...

 

[flowerchicks]

I say what have you got to lose. He may become friendly without hens to "protect". I have a mean silkie roo that goes for ankles when you walk by him but I can pick him up and carry him and hold him and he actually seems to like it... as long as I bring him inside away from the hens. As soon I bring him outside and he hears them he wants down. If your roo doesn't mellow after being alone, it sounds like your step dad can "take care of" the situation. The roo won't be reproducing his meanness so I think culling him before giving him a chance is heartless.

 

[MikeS(erama)]

I actually have a serama roo that after his girl died became very affectionate with us. He's an indoor pet and he will fallow us around every where, even hopping up on our bed just so that he can be around us!

 

[Charles07]

Just outside of Meeman Shelby Forest State Park, north of Memphis TN there is an old "general foods" store that has changed hands several times over the past 60+ years.

When we drove up to it, looking for supplies, we saw a beautiful rooster perching on the porch railing watching the proprietor through the front window.

When we asked him about it he said, "Oh, he came with the place when I bought it."

"No hens?", I asked.

"Nope, he just watches people come and go from the front porch", he said.

 

[jarcoo0153]

I have been keeping chickens Illegally in town for the past four years. In January, I bought a 3 week old Chick from a local feed store that was supposed to be a hen. Long story short, it turned out a he and I recently bought four acres and put him out there by himself, and he does just fine, and is less agressive. I think he would do just fine!

I wouldn't cull him unless he is still agressive with no flock.

Edited for Spelling

 

[rufus]

It has been my experience that a solitary rooster will go looking for company. If there are any chickens, especially hens in the neighborhood, that is where they will go. Sometimes they will travel a mile or two just to be with other chickens.

Rufus

 

[flowerchild59]

We lost our entire flock of hens and a couple of roosters a few years ago. The lone survivor was a rooster who was roosting in a tree that fateful night. He lived a semi solitary existance for several more years. He hung out in the barn with cows, horses, and an occasional pig. He came up to the front door and looked in the windows and was quite talkative til he got his treats, usually a handful of catfood then he would go on his merry way back to the barn. He still roosted in the trees at night, even in the dead of winter. He was hit by a car this past spring and we are finally getting around to getting more chickens. But I must say he was a much more mellow fellow without the hens to protect. He never acted up again.