Help with chicks and adult rooster

[Nellaca7]

Hello Everyone!

I have an adult rooster, a Rhode Island Red. I need to begin transferring my chicks, they will be six weeks on Saturday out to the coop. I need some suggestions and thoughts about how to transition the chicks safely. The new chicks are all different breeds. Any advice?

 

[OneToManyChickens]

Do you have other older Hens?

 

[DAYtime]

We built a mini coop of chicken wire around a wooden frame and out that in the coop with the others. They all got used to each other safely and once the baby was large enough to handle her own then we removed the mini coop.

 

[Nellaca7]

We built a mini coop of chicken wire around a wooden frame and out that in the coop with the others. They all got used to each other safely and once the baby was large enough to handle her own then we removed the mini coop.

Thank you for the advice!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

As for the rooster, at six weeks you should be fine. Most roosters consider any chicks to be his. Sometimes mine help broody hens take care of the chicks but most of the time he just ignores them. When I integrate 5 week old or 8 week old brooder-raised chicks he ignores them but the brooder and grow-out pen is where he can see them so they kind of grow up with him. If you wait until they hit puberty and he sees them as rivals that can change. You don't get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors but your biggest threat is much more likely to come from the hens than the rooster. I seldom have that problem with hens either but I have a lot of room.

I have no idea of how much room you have in the coop or outside. I don't know how your coop is set up. I don't know how many chickens you have. It's hard for me to give specific suggestions if I don't know what you have to work with.

In generic terms, I'd suggest you house those chicks somewhere that the flock can see them for a couple of weeks before you let them mingle. When you do, try to let them mingle on their terms. Don't try to force them into a small shared space if you can avoid it. I like for them to have a separate place to sleep until they want to move up with the adults. Separate and well-spaced out feeding and watering stations help.

 

[Nellaca7]

As for the rooster, at six weeks you should be fine. Most roosters consider any chicks to be his. Sometimes mine help broody hens take care of the chicks but most of the time he just ignores them. When I integrate 5 week old or 8 week old brooder-raised chicks he ignores them but the brooder and grow-out pen is where he can see them so they kind of grow up with him. If you wait until they hit puberty and he sees them as rivals that can change. You don't get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors but your biggest threat is much more likely to come from the hens than the rooster. I seldom have that problem with hens either but I have a lot of room.

I have no idea of how much room you have in the coop or outside. I don't know how your coop is set up. I don't know how many chickens you have. It's hard for me to give specific suggestions if I don't know what you have to work with.

In generic terms, I'd suggest you house those chicks somewhere that the flock can see them for a couple of weeks before you let them mingle. When you do, try to let them mingle on their terms. Don't try to force them into a small shared space if you can avoid it. I like for them to have a separate place to sleep until they want to move up with the adults. Separate and well-spaced out feeding and watering stations help.

Thank you so much for all this advice! I have eight 6-week old pullets (well they will be between 6-7 weeks this weekend). I have a pretty large chicken coop for the chickens. I only have my one adult rooster left. The rest will be the new chicks. They are still inside right now as I raised them from babies. I would like to begin to move outside since they are getting bigger. I have a large hen house and large area for the chickens to roam safely that the rooster is in by himself currently. I would like to mingle together as soon as possible but I just want to do it safely.

 

[Nellaca7]

Do you have other older Hens?

No, just the rooster!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Just the rooster. I'm not familiar with that territory. I'd be tempted to just put them together one morning when you can observe and see what happens. It may turn out perfectly where he "mothers" them. They may ignore each other. Or you may have to separate them. I don't know.

 

[Nellaca7]

Just the rooster. I'm not familiar with that territory. I'd be tempted to just put them together one morning when you can observe and see what happens. It may turn out perfectly where he "mothers" them. They may ignore each other. Or you may have to separate them. I don't know.

Thank you! It is a unique situation!

 

[aart]

Let us know how it goes!