Hens abandoning their chicks too early

[katienana]

I have about 8 hens and all was going well...till I got a new young rooster. This young rooster mounts or fights hard to mount hens that have young chicks(about a day or week old). Now two of my hens have abandoned their chicks(4&5week old). Is this caused by the young rooster? the other roosters before him did not cause this much confusion!Is it normal for hens to leave their chicks this early? The kite took all the chicks of the other hen :-( because they were abandoned so early. Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would assume it was all too much confusion and stress on your hens. A rooster who acts like that needs to separated out until he mature some more. If that behavior continues he should be removed permanently.

A hen will chicks is not receptive as she's not producing eggs. A rooster should know better by the color of the comb, a young randy rooster doesn't care about anyone but himself.

 

[aart]

Welcom to BYC!

Remove the young cockerel asap.
How old is he?

 

[bobbi-j]

I have had hens wean their chicks at 4-5 weeks without the influence of a rooster. Sounds to me, though, that what you have on your hands is a cockerel just coming into sexual maturity. He really should be separated at least until your chicks have been weaned.

 

[katienana]

Welcom to BYC!

Remove the young cockerel asap.
How old is he?

 

[katienana]

About 10 months old...

 

[chickens really]

My Hens all have weaned their Chicks by 5 weeks old....The Rooster does not need to be removed.......If the Hen has decided her Chicks no longer need her? Momma knows best...

I am sure the Chicks are not running after her still peeping and crying for her.......

Have no worries...


Cheers!

 

[aart]

About 10 months old...

Not that young..... but still......was he well mannered in his old flock?
He may be just trying to dominate this new environment/flock.....or he may be a 'bad' bird.
If blood runs or he's pinning down and beating them unmercilessy I'd isolate him.

You have two stressful events happening, new cockerel and chicks being weaned.
Time will tell if the chaos settles without intervention.