Chicks with roo

[Chickassan]

Im just cursed, iv'e accepted it lol.
He was one out of 50 plus cockrels, so I had them just pick one.
Same process for 3 pullets I paid for.
He was great otherwise, wasn't a problem to me and good to the girls.
I kept him nearly a year, id saved him a few times when he got injured on the job.
We had spent some time together, and I was happy with him.
That didn't last long .
I was asked why when I returned him.
I simply said he isn't good with chicks, trying to hurry it up....didn't work.
I got half an hour of how good his line was with the broody hens and babies.
I just pulled my freind aside and whispered the details.
Her father did not need to hear that "issue" after all that bragging.
So I let his daughter tell him.

There's a lesson to be learn't there somewhere about neighbors bearing gifts.
So, I had a look through my records. This is what I've got.
2009. Forced integration. No rooster present 2 chicks injured by hens.
2009. Forced integration. Cockerel present. 1 chicks killed.
2010. Forced integration. No roosters present. I chick injured.
2011. Pre integration. 1 chick injured by mother.
2012. Pre integration. I chick injured by mother.
2014. Pre integration 3 chicks killed by mother.
2015. Pre integration, 3 chicks injured and put down.

Forced integration means incubator hatched and put in with group at night.
Pre integration means mother in nest site away from group.
So, why don't people write is it safe to put my chicks in with the hens more often?
My records here show that a hen is much more likely to injure or kill chicks.

 

[Matilda Belle]

I had a young silkie rooster raise a group of 6-8 week old chicks. The hens wanted nothing to do with them The rooster would show them treats and snuggle with them. It was the cutest thing. Not all roosters are bad! But I'd watch them close for sure.

 

[Shadrach]

Im just cursed, iv'e accepted it lol.
He was one out of 50 plus cockrels, so I had them just pick one.
Same process for 3 pullets I paid for.
He was great otherwise, wasn't a problem to me and good to the girls.
I kept him nearly a year, id saved him a few times when he got injured on the job.
We had spent some time together, and I was happy with him.
That didn't last long .
I was asked why when I returned him.
I simply said he isn't good with chicks, trying to hurry it up....didn't work.
I got half an hour of how good his line was with the broody hens and babies.
I just pulled my freind aside and whispered the details.
Her father did not need to hear that "issue" after all that bragging.
So I let his daughter tell him.

I've had some real asshats, but all so far have been good with chicks. There are always going to be the exceptions. It's just seems a shame to me that the exceptions get all the publicity.

 

[Hughes Wildlife Farm]

My one silkie hen, showed them who was boss, for about 1min. Now they are all snuggled in the coop ❤ worked perfectly.
Silkies are so tame as is, thats why I wanted to put them in my silkie pen, until they are big enough to go in with my egg laying big girls

 

[Chickassan]

I know, broke my heart he had that sort of flaw.
I still wonder why he did, his life was very good here and he was maybe 3 months when I got him still had his chick voice.
If I wasn't planning to grow the flock i'd probably kept him.
Im still very good friends with those people but won't buy any more birds from them, that kind of made the decision for me.
I don't discourage anyone else, but if I know they're getting the bonus cockrel i'll tell them the possibility if they are planning to making one a main rooster.
I feel awful about doing it , but that isn't normal.
If he was just being a boy i'd not thought twice about it, but these were three weekers I had out with me.

Can't grow the flock if he turns all the kids into pancakes.

I've had some real asshats, but all so far have been good with chicks. There are always going to be the exceptions. It's just seems a shame to me that the exceptions get all the publicity.

 

[Hughes Wildlife Farm]

Well I am a week into the chicks being in the coop. Thankfully they have adjusted very well to the temperature..as we have had two 15degree nights... And everyone is getting along just fine!!! And I didnt wake to frozen chicken nuggets. None of them fight or cause a scuffle, so glad my silkies roo isnt trying to mount them either

 

[chickens really]

My Rooster definitely is NOT interested in young Pullets.