I recently purchased 3 two month old chickens so that my baby chick wouldn't be lonely anymore only problem is that my rooster attacks the chick and only the rooster the hens get along fine and sleep together but what should I do to stop him from seeing the chick as a threat
Hi Glad you joined the flock. I'm afraid introducing new flock members is a long process and something that can't be done quickly. How old is your smallest chick? Smaller younger flock members are mainly at the bottom of pecking order. I would reccomend the look but don't touch method. Put your chick somewhere safe but so the others can see but can't touch it and cause any injury. I wouldn't try to introduce the chick untill it's as big as the others. When you do introduce it there will be the usual pecking order scuffles but the baby will be larger and stronger and better equipped for this happening. Wishing you the very best of luck in the future
Hello there and welcome to BYC! You can't mix small chicks into a flock. They need to be at least 3 or 4 months of age before mixing. Keep chicks in a cage within the flock and run, everybody sees, nobody touches. When they are old enough you can mix them in. If they are old enough right now, keep them caged for one month. Takes this long for an older flock to get to know newbies. You do not want roosters mating with young chicks until they are of breeding age. So you may need to keep the rooster separate until the chicks become pullets and are laying. Roosters can harm small birds.
Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you. X2 on TwoCrow's advice. Usually, you shouldn't integrate young birds into a flock until they are mostly the same size as the old birds. 14-16 weeks is a good age.
Then the advice you have received here probably has prevented injuries or death from the rooster and flock. Chickens can be pretty ferocious in what they consider a pecking order and in keeping strange birds out. Glad you wrote in for advice. Welcome to backyard chickens.