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[Swfl]

?

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

If he is not leaving any wounds on the pullets and they are still healthy I would leave them.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

You should separate him. At that age (and as he matures before they do), he could began mounting them, which will end up stunting their growth and possibly cause other issues for them. The chicks are neither ready or mature enough to be mounted, so this could cause added stress on them, and they could possibly go hungry and thirsty if they end up hiding from him. Also, even if he hasn't left noticeable injuries on them yet, doesn't mean it couldn't happen. He's too young to know what he's doing and even for their age (and size), any rooster who is near or already matured isn't safe to be around them.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

The above poster is not wrong, however, I have had juveniles with adult males and rarely have problems. The OP can decide just my 2 cents

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm inclined to say separate him away from the young girls. If you had them all the same age, a cockerel (male chicken under 1 year of age) would still mature faster than the females. The girls won't be ready to mate until they are closer to laying age (another 10 weeks or so). The cockerel is already showing signs he's ready to mate at 4 months. So he's going to try to force himself on your 8 week old girls and could harm them.

Personally, I think you'll find you won't want the cockerel. Unless you want fertilized eggs in the future, he may cause way more trouble than it's worth.

You say you did a lot of research prior to getting your 8 girls and built them a nice coop but may have done them an injustice by making a snap decision to get a cockerel just because he wants to hear the crowing.... not sure what Google result said "he shouldn't bother the pullets" but that is definitely incorrect. A grown rooster with a flock of hens will typically not bother younger chicks until they sexually mature. But you have a cockerel, not a rooster. And his only options are 8 week old chicks.

 

[gimmie birdies]

He thinks he is mister big britches. He will beat them up to his heart's content. His age is better with old hens where they can give him a what-to and teach him to be gentle.