Giant roo, standard hens - will he hurt them?

[kipper]

We have 18 pullets, they are an assortment of EEs, Delawares, Welsummers, Cochins, and a Jersey Giant. We have two cockerels, one a Delaware and one a Jersey Giant. We didn't intend on 2 roos, but the 90% accuracy in sexing rate holds pretty true. My DH insisted on two Jersey Giants, so of course one turned out to be a roo (Murphy's Law!)

Our flock is 13 weeks old and the Delaware is alpha at this point, despite his size. He and the JG get along fine so far (I'm sure that may well change).

My question:
I am curious if anyone has had a JG roo with standard hens, and if so will his size and weight be dangerous to the girls? We have the ability to create a separate yard and house for the Giants and Cochins if needed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have experience with Jersey Giants, so I'm just theorizing.

Most full sized fowl roosters are a pound or two heavier than the hens anyway. Many people keep bantam hens with their full sized roosters without real problems. The big rooster could work out. However, one of the reasons a rooster can cause barebacked hens is if he is significantly bigger than the hen. You'd think that the significantly heavier rooster could break down a smaller hen too, but I don't have experience with that. I think you would be taking some risk but I don't think it is a lot of risk.

Whether the JG becomes top rooster or not, he will still mate with several of the hens if the two roosters can work out the dominance thing without bloodshed. When they are raised together, they often do work it out. And the JG is later maturing than your Delaware. It may be a long time before final dominance is settled.

Since so many people have bantam hens and full sized roosters together, I'd probably try it with the JG. Hopefully someone with experience with JG roosters can give you more reliable advice.

 

[kipper]

Your comments are very much in line with what we are thinking. It's funny, the cockerels were posturing and having stare downs, but that ended a month ago and they act indifferent toward each other now.

I think our concerns are the sheer weight of the JG, he could top out at 13lbs and he is currently 50% bigger than even the JG hen. He is very mellow at this point, but we are well aware he has some maturing to come.

 

[kipper]

Any other experiences with mixed size flocks?