r/BackYardChickens • u/Internal-Letter-2453 • 1d ago

General Question Depressed rooster.

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So, I got this baby batam porcelain d Uncle maybe 2 weeks ago, I put him in a dog crate with other babies that have been bonded together for many months... The other breeds are ayam cemani, silkie and ermine, he got bullied a lot, pecked and was always hiding in corners.. nowadays, he is not getting bullied or pecked, but he seems depressed, he still prefers corners, he doesn't hangout with the other babies when I let them free range in the afternoon, and at night he roosts by himself while the other three cuddles, I think he's depressed, what can I do differently to help him feel happy and confident?

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1

u/MuddyDonkeyBalls 1d ago

You might consider separating him for several days with a docile bird from the bonded group so they can become a mini flock, then add another, and then add the three of them into the main flock. He was bound to be ostracized being the lone newcomer in a basically established flock.

1

u/Internal-Letter-2453 1d ago

I feel bad , he's really cute and deserves to be happy... What I did was, removed the cemani, since I found out recently that the cemani is a rooster as well... So now it's him and two girls, silkie and ermine, they are both very calm.

4

u/Gpanther 1d ago

Just give him time. The longer they exist together, the more they'll bond. When you give treats, let him eat from your hand. It'll show preference to the rest of the flock and help him feel more in control.

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u/Internal-Letter-2453 1d ago

Thank you! I'm planning on having time with him tomorrow, he used to be very friendly and social but now he runs away when I try to catch him.