full-size rooster and bantam hens?

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

We are rehoming our "accidental" cockerel and I just found out that the family that we've promised to give him to is getting bantam hens. Is it possible to keep a full-size rooster with bantie hens or will the mating be too rough on the hens? I don't want him to do damage to their hens, both for the hens' sake and to avoid a situation where they'd send him back because their hens are getting beat up. He is a Buff Orpington/Silver Cuckoo Marans cross so he's going to be pretty big. He is already quite large for his age (10 days shy of four months).

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I don't know about everyone else but I would not create that situation especially with a young cockeral whose hormones are still out of whack

 

[LilJoe]

×2

If he were older I would try. I had a year old orpington rooster and he didn't try to mount the silkies at all.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Oh shoot. That's too bad. Sounds like I'm going to have to tell them no. It just seems like not a very good arrangement whichever way it goes: if the rooster tries to mount the banties, it'll be too rough on them, and if he doesn't try to mount them, then I'd feel bad for him because at this age he definitely needs some girls to mate with.