1 Yr old Rooster and baby chicks!?!

[Telecaster68]

I have a 1 yr old Buff Orp Rooster and have five BO chicks in the brooder. They are almost fully feathered and the weather is getting close to warm enough to put them in the coop with him. I am wondering if he will attack them or be too rough with the youngsters or will he protect them? He is a very nice Rooster, hoping that doesn't change.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Do you have other chickens, or just the rooster and chicks? You usually want to wait until chickens are about the same size to put them together. A good way to get them used to each other so they are easier to combine later is if you can split the coop into two sections so the chicks and rooster can see and interact with each other but not touch. There are a couple of good articles in the Learning Center on integrating chickens, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[TwoCrows]

X2. You will want to wait until the younger birds are older and about the same size as the existing flock. As Kelsie has mentioned, keeping them on the other side of wire or a cage for a few weeks allows for the original flock to work out the pecking order so when you do mix them, no body gets hurt.

Good luck with your new poultry adventures and welcome to BYC!

 

[gander007]