HELP! Is a rooster compatable with baby hens?

[silkiechicken]

I agree with everyone above about that roo, it's really hard to tell when someone is giving an older one away, especially at this time of year when their hormones flare.

I guess my situation is a bit different. I have a main roo and he usually has a few older hens with him and I go ahead and plop in the new layers at about 3-4 months old and they turn out fine. Could be that the big roo is happy with his older hens and leaves the young ones alone but they've never had problems. They do get to free range over lots of area though so maybe it's also that the young ones can hide easily if they don't want the attention... either that or my rooster is very gentle and doesn't really ever get caught with a hen that doesn't submit right away.


Good luck, chances are you got at least one roo in thoes pullets.

 

[soonerdog]

A good measure to rely on before deciding to place an adult rooster with young pullets would be.......wait until you find your first egg or two! Then you know without doubt that the hens are mature enough to begin mating with the rooster. Otherwise, I don't think it is healthy for the rooster to be with them when they are too young. This would be too stressful for the hens and then stress can create a situation of not being healthy! I think this is true fairness to your young pullets. After all, why would you spend good money for ALL pullets and then not treat them the best?