are chicks safe with roos?

[easteregger96]

I was wondering if anyone knows if it is safe to let your hen hatch her chicks if she is still in the same coop with the roos? I have heard that the roos and older chickens will hurt the babies. I was just wondering if it is true? I have heard some people say that they have not had a problem. But, I'm not sure if I should move my roo if one of my hens decides to sit?

 

[Blue_Myst]

I think it's a case by case basis. Some people have very fatherly roos. Others don't. It may be wise to keep a barrier between the hen and babies until you know how your rooster reacts to the new balls of fluff.

Here's a bump, at any rate!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. I have three broody raised chicks that have been in the coop with the rest of the flock since day one. The first three days they were isolated in a crate with mama, but as soon as she wanted to bring them out I let her. One chick was injured by a meat bird (very food oriented birds), but once I moved the meat birds out of the coop everything's been fine. The chicks get occasional pecks from the older birds, but have learned to move quickly. My rooster has amazed us with his care and concern for the chicks. Mama kicked the chicks loose a couple of weeks ago, yet my roo still watches over them.
Now I have another broody with chicks, hatched today. I plan to manage this brood the same way - let mama alone in her crate for the first few days, then let her and the chicks out under close supervision. I don't forsee any problems; especially with such an attentive roo.

 

[easteregger96]

Thanks for your replies. I think it was kind of a dumb question, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was worried about that kind of situation because as we all know, you never know what a roo is going to do. I have had my chickens and roos about a year. None of my hens have offered to sit yet, but I hope they will soon. I know they are getting bred. My 12 year old son announces it by saying'' Mom they are doing their business again''. A few weeks ago, my daughter took 6 eggs to school and gave them to her natural resources teacher and he is incubating them as we speak. I gave another 12 to a friend of ours and he is incubating them too. I have thought about an incubator but, I am really wanting my hens to raise their own. I think they would be great mothers. I just hope they will soon. I don't really know what age they have to be before they start wanting to sit on their own?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
There's no such thing as a dumb question, only dumb mistakes made from not asking questions first.

Broodiness is somewhat dependant on the breed, but also very much an individual thing. Case in point - I have a flock of 3 year old brahmas, a supposedly broody breed. Not a single one of them has ever gone broody. On the other hand, I have 3 salmon faverolles in my younger flock, SFs are said to be "sometimes broody". One has eight week old chicks, one I'm trying to break of her broodiness and the other hatched chicks today. They've been like this since they were barely 8 months old.

If a hen decides to go broody, she does. If she doesn't want to go broody, IMO there's not a dang thing you can do to force it. Watching a hen raise chicks has got to be one of the sweetest things to witness in nature. My hens are great mamas.

A belated

 

[easteregger96]

Thank you for the welcome and the advice. I am very anxious to see if any of those 18 eggs being incubated get hatched. I am hoping with the warmer weather coming, some of my girls will want to sit soon. It would be very nice. I originally got my chickens for eggs but, the more I think about it, I'd like for them to raise their own babies too.

 

[Judy]

They don't necessarily go broody when young, either. I haad an EE who was about 3 raise my last batch. The one before that was a mixed breed, quite young. Of my 3 Kraienkoppes, another very broody breed, only one went broody, but the others helped out with the mothering.

I've had different roos with my broodies and chicks, all of which grew up with the flock. Never had a roo bother the chicks. Some of the hens would, some, but mama would take care of that. I've read of roos helping raise chicks, but never had that happen, either.