Bringing up young roos among established older roos.

[Stephanie739]

As Scratch kind of hinted at, the more space you have available for them, the better chance they have at getting along. If you free range, then all the better. Too many roos will be a big issue with your hens though, so you'll most likely have to deal with things if you end up with 50% cockerels.
Earl is our head roo - he's four. I added a 2nd roo (cockerel actually - John Urban) in February. They're in different coops/runs, but they free range together and do fine. They've chest bumped a few times (when the newbie was coming into his own), but nothing more than that. Earl is king.
Then, in May, I added another cockerel, Cap'n Jack. He's in the same run as John Urban, and has done well, because he came with his own little harem of two pullets. When they free range, the groups stay pretty close to one another, but in their separate little groups. I just had three chicks hatch about 6 weeks ago, and one is a cockerel. So far all is well, with the three boys sharing the one run, and all four together when they range. I will say that mine are milder breeds (d'uccle and seramas), and I do think that plays a part too.
I completely agree that cockerels raised as chicks with a group stand a much better chance of living in harmony with other roos.

Space is surely a factor as are the breed. My run is very large for the number of chickens I have and my breeds tend to be on the docile side except the RIR. The RIR wandered over from the neighbor's home, guessing he was low in the pecking order and was chased away because they had several roosters from a straight run batch, so he sort of keeps to himself.

 

[Stephanie739]

Hi All,

I have a broody hen that is hatching some chicks for me.
we
I have never hand raised my own chicks starting from hatch.

I have one roo, who is a good roo with a wonderful personality.

I was wondering should some of the chicks be roos and Roy (the roo)
being an established roo would there be much problem with fighting among
the boys?

Your experiences and thoughts please...

I am not too sure what to expect since I am a first timer at this.

Thanks

You know I bet your new baby roos will be accepted by Roy because they will be introduced by the broody. He might even take on a daddy role. My orpington roo did that, calling the babies over for a treat. It was very sweet.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

You know I bet your new baby roos will be accepted by Roy because they will be introduced by the broody. He might even take on a daddy role. My orpington roo did that, calling the babies over for a treat. It was very sweet.

That is so sweet. I have Buff Orphingtons, I hope that Roy will do well with them.

Does anyone know the best way to introduce chicks and the broody back to the flock?
Have never done this before and would like a little bit or direction if you don't mind.

Thanks Again All

 

[Stephanie739]

That is so sweet. I have Buff Orphingtons, I hope that Roy will do well with them.

Does anyone know the best way to introduce chicks and the broody back to the flock?
Have never done this before and would like a little bit or direction if you don't mind.

Thanks Again All

Oh you aren't going to have problems with those roos!!! My big orpington is as timid as can be, yet not in a wimpy sense. He is king roo, but without a mean or aggressive bone in his body! I let my broody decide how to introduce the chicks. I didn't let her and the babies free range for the first few days, but they were in the coop/small run (dog kennel) when the big chickens returned for night and of course in the morning before I let the big ones out again. The broody took care of the babies...puffing up if anyone got too close while together in the run. Not one chicken bothered those babies. Within a week, the babies were hanging with the flock on a regular basis out in the big run.

Now, I have to add, that I have since taken the babies (now 4 weeks old) and am keeping them contained with my incubator hatch (2 weeks old) I had to do this because the babies were getting out of the run (while mom was locked in) They were wandering around on their own, in my yard and the neighbors yard, without any fear of my cats, hawks, etc....



ps the babies were roosting with the big chickens in less than 2 weeks. It was so cute.

 

[teach1rusl]

I agree, let mom do the work of introductions. She'll be pretty protective for the first 3-4 weeks or so. My mama brought her chicks out when they were a week old. They moved up to the roost w/mama around the 3 week mark (my roosts are very low in that coop). She began distancing herself a bit with them around 4-5 weeks, but they still hang tight with her, and she still comes running if she hears distress, and they still roost under her wings sometimes (at 7 weeks!). Others in the flock avoided them at first, but now will chase them a few steps (just pecking order stuff, nothing serious) and pretty much ignores them the rest of the time...
I would still keep an eye on things as much as possible those first few days though - never hurts to be a little cautious.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I agree, let mom do the work of introductions. She'll be pretty protective for the first 3-4 weeks or so. My mama brought her chicks out when they were a week old. They moved up to the roost w/mama around the 3 week mark (my roosts are very low in that coop). She began distancing herself a bit with them around 4-5 weeks, but they still hang tight with her, and she still comes running if she hears distress, and they still roost under her wings sometimes (at 7 weeks!). Others in the flock avoided them at first, but now will chase them a few steps (just pecking order stuff, nothing serious) and pretty much ignores them the rest of the time...
I would still keep an eye on things as much as possible those first few days though - never hurts to be a little cautious.

Ok, I guess my question now is...how do I let the mama do the work for introductions?
My set up is this. The chicks are 4 days old now. I have them in a large Dog Kennel and
put them in the pen this morning. I still have the door on the kennel so the chicks cannot
get out and the others can not get in. The chicks have their own food and water in
the kennel with mama.

Is this a good way to let them get introduced to the other members of the flock?

I opened the door and let the chicks come into the pen a little bit.
My roo pecked one of the chicks

it is not hurt but it scared me.
So I put the door back on the kennel. Is it normal for a roo to do this?

Was he just seeing what the little one was or what?

Thanks Again All

 

[Stephanie739]

Ok, I guess my question now is...how do I let the mama do the work for introductions?
My set up is this. The chicks are 4 days old now. I have them in a large Dog Kennel and
put them in the pen this morning. I still have the door on the kennel so the chicks cannot
get out and the others can not get in. The chicks have their own food and water in
the kennel with mama.

Is this a good way to let them get introduced to the other members of the flock?

I opened the door and let the chicks come into the pen a little bit.
My roo pecked one of the chicks

it is not hurt but it scared me.
So I put the door back on the kennel. Is it normal for a roo to do this?

Was he just seeing what the little one was or what?

Thanks Again All

Was the broody out with the baby when it was pecked? It sounds like you have a great set up for introductions. What did the broody do when the roo got so close? Did the baby run back to mama?

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Was the broody out with the baby when it was pecked? It sounds like you have a great set up for introductions. What did the broody do when the roo got so close? Did the baby run back to mama?

No, the broody was in the kennel with the other chicks. The little chick ran out without mama. When Roy (my roo) pecked the little guy
he ran back in the kennel with mama.

I am glad that you have confirmed that I have a good set up for introductions. I have never done this before so any and all help is great.

It scared me. Make me wonder if I am doing the right thing.

 

[Stephanie739]

No, the broody was in the kennel with the other chicks. The little chick ran out without mama. When Roy (my roo) pecked the little guy
he ran back in the kennel with mama.

I am glad that you have confirmed that I have a good set up for introductions. I have never done this before so any and all help is great.

It scared me. Make me wonder if I am doing the right thing.

I think they will be okay if you leave the kennel door open so the broody can get out with the babies to defend them. I have a feeling the others will be trying to escape too! The broody will take care of them.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Ok, I will open the door for them. The little one that got bit went out without the mama so maybe it will
wait for mama to go out into the pen now.

thanks, it just scared me when my roo pecked at the little bit.

mama is still sitting on two eggs that are late hatching. They should be hatching anytime now.
I candled them this morning, everything is looking good. I just think that with the hot weather
the mama had a hard time keeping the temp right. Another poster said that they could have gotten
over heated. It has messed up the calendar a little bit but all is still looking good.

Thanks again for your help.