Can I keep the older rooster?

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.

 

[chickenpooplady]

from Highland Co. Ohio!!!

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I wasn't sure if it would stress him by loosing all his girls and suddenly wake up one morning with all new young chicks.  I was afraid his behavior would change or he would kill the chicks.

They are living animals. I don't know exactly how they will react. Roosters can change under stress, but I'd not worry about that to much with him at his age. Anything is possible, but you will probably be OK with his basic behavior toward you.

Would he kill the chicks if you just put young chicks in with him? That is a real hard one to answer. It is possible. You just don't know. It is also possible he will act like a broody and take them to raise. People on here have posted that a rooster did that when something happened to a broody with young chicks. But it is also possible he would ignore them or actively try to harm them. I just don't know how he would react.

I don't know your set-up or conditions either. The more room you have, the more options you have. If you have lots of room, I'd suggest letting them get big enough so you are comfortable letting them out on their own, and try putting them together after letting them look at each other through a fence for a week or more. Do this when you can be around to observe. If space is tight, I'd let them get older. I'd also suggest keeping at least one of the older hens around to keep him company while the chicks grow up, especially if you can identify which one or ones are laying. But even that is a risk if you try to merge them with the hen present. The rooster may be fine with the chicks but the hen may be a brute. You just don't know.

As far as I am concerned there are no correct and risk-free ways to do it. I don't get rid of all the hens and leave just a rooster. I let the chicks grow up with the flock and make their own way, just letting the chicks range with the flock at about 8 weeks age. But I have a whole lot of space and let the chicks sleep in a separate building while they grow up some more.

 

[The Red Rooster]

I'd keep three hens as a companion for him while you are raising the chicks.