i thought roosters were meant to keep the peace?

[dawg53]

I never put 8 week old chicks in a flock like that. They can be killed.

You expected too much of your rooster. He will keep peace between his hens, but these are babies. They are not in his group yet and he will probably not protect them from his hens.

You also didn't follow quarantine procedures and risked introducing disease into your flock.

How are you feeding babies when the hens must eat layer feed with proper calcium levels and 8 week old chicks need starter/grower feed?

x2 I wholeheartedly agree. Space can be an issue as well.

 

[wullus]

Honestly... my mum's friend bought the chicks down and put them in the coop when they were about four weeks old lol. This was back before we had the four new pullets though, and the hen sorta pecked at them a little bit for a few hours but stopped after that. When I introduced the four pullets two weeks later, they started to get pecked by the dominant hen and were running around. THe pullets were also pecking the smaller chicks as well. But they have all quietened down on the random pecking: only if they are trying to steal the other one's food, or they get in each other's way do they do anything.

I haven't let the chickens out with the others to free-range, partly because they are still so small and I'm worried that we wouldn't be able to find them. Should I be worried? Or should I wait til they are the same size? Thanks

 

[Cetawin]

By chance did you put your peacekeeping requirements in the job description when your rooster applied for the position? Sorry if I am sounding sarcastic but you cannot be serious are you? Would you take 6 strange dogs of different ages and toss them in the same kennel and expect happy peaceful cohabitation?

For starters, you should never mix age groups like that...I am surprised the original hen has not killed the youngsters and I warn you now...she could easily kill the babies you are getting if you slap them in the coop too. The food requirements for those age groups is different...chicks do not need layer feed and it can be detrimental to them. Secondly, a rooster is NOT a peacekeeper...he is the protector, guardian, warning system, provider and procreator and he ACCEPTS birds into his flock when HE chooses not when you do.

Forget the biosecurity practice of quarantine in this discussion and look at the common sense aspect...introduction is a slow process...you allow the birds you are introducing the be able to see and interact with the existing birds through a barrier....you allow the newer and youngers ones to grow to a size they can defend themselves, and you begin allowing them to interact without a barrier under your watchful eye and for short periods of time...it is a step by step process not an open the coop door and toss them in and expect harmony.

From a safety aspect, all new birds should be quarantined away from existing birds for a minimum of 30 days...the purpose is to look for any illness and or symptoms to appear before you risk infecting your existing flock with an illness or disease that could kill them.

If you want that rooster to play nice and allow the new additions to become part of his flock....I suggest you employ common sense in the timing of introductions but for now....sit back and wait because it will only happen when he decides it will happen...if he does. Meanwhile, pray that neither he nor the hen kill the invaders to their space. When your new babies arrive...protect them by letting them grow up a bit and get some size on them and introducing them slowly.

 

[wullus]

Well sorry for not knowing about "common sense" of chooks. I've had no experience with adding new birds and all that with them. My mum's friend breeds chickens, and just came and put them in the pen one day when we weren't home, and while the dominant hen did peck them a little bit, she only did that for a few hours before stopping.

The three of them are fine: they only get pecked when they get in the way of the other chooks. So they are "apart" of the flock, but I was just suprised that the rooster pecked them when one of them jumped up on the roost. I always give them their own little feeder out of the way of the other chooks, and throw another bit of silverbeet in away from all the other leafy scraps, so they actually have a chance to eat.

Obviously I am not going to "chuck" these day old chicks I am getting in with those other ones until they at least 8 weeks old. I am not that stupid.

And the only reason I thought a rooster was a peacekeeper was I thought that someone had described him as one in another thread. Though that might have been about their certain rooster or something. I don't know.

Sorry for coming across as rude, but seriously, they are all fine and dandy. My nan bought down a whopper of a chook the other day, because apparently she goes broody on and off (I think she's a white sussex or something) and we wanted to put some fertilized eggs under her. Because she is so big, she could easily fend for herself and stand up for herself, so she was just bought in how she is. Yes, this may have upset the pecking order, but she never goes causing trouble, and no one has caused her any trouble yet (at first, there was a fight, but they've stopped that now) so it's all good. Only day three of her being in there too.

 

[galanie]

I've read many times that a good rooster does keep the peace. But your flock is of mixed ages and it will just take some time for them to all settle down. In my own limited experience with roosters, they don't all "keep the peace" and some will actually keep them all unsettled rather than make them more so. Just give yours some more time. Once they're all considered adult by each other it'll get much easier.

Yes, adding new birds like that is a risk. BUT. I've done it anyway because of the source. I know the people, I know the birds, and if theirs have anything mine probably have it too or have had it. So I don't worry about it if they are from there, but only from there. Anywhere else, and they get the quarantine first. Sounds like you are in a similar situation, actually. Birds from that person have all been fine.

 

[centrarchid]

Wullus, you did alright. A little tweaking of technique and you will be doing the impossible all the time. In nature, chickens and their relatives live in mixed age groups by necessity. Some social strife occurs that is exacerbated by confinement but you can get age groups to mix. Remember what you saw with future efforts and be considerate of individual variation. Do not let the "common sense" stuff get in way as such is another way of saying "only way I know that works".

 

[wullus]

Thanks for your reply sure, I wouldn't do this with a large flock of birds, (just throw a new bird in), I would definately use this whole quarantine method. It's just that, with only a hen and a rooster at the time, as well as three 5 week old chicks, and a lot of space, I'm sure that these four pullets would be right. As soon as I put the four pullets in, the rooster started circling them and dancing near them, so I guess he took to them alright. The hen has started to accept them lately- one of the pullets sleeps up top next to her and the rooster. The other three find makeshift roosts, but will hopefully be roosting near them soon. The big white one roosts by itself on the bottom roost, she seems to keep to herself. And the three baby chicks squash together underneath the roost in the dirt to keep warm.

When I let them free-range (I haven't let the white one out yet, or the chicks) they all seem to go together and eat near each other without hassle.

I think they are fine.

 

[centrarchid]

Wullus, all reads good. The little dance given by rooster to newcomers (a.k.a cutting wing) was a form of aggression. It is used in part at a display to rivals, new comers and hens during courtship. Improper response by chicks and he would have been hard on them. The tight foraging indicates proper harem setting up.

 

[wullus]

Ahhh okay, I thought that it was him wanting to breed with them! See, proves how much I know about em haha thanks for telling me that. He did the same thing to the big white hen we put in the other day, I thought he was eager to mate with her or something.

 

[wullus]

Bad news turns out, I was wrong... well with the white chook anyway. I went out to the coop the other day and she was hiding in the corner. I picked her up and put her back with the others, and holy crap did the rooster chase her around, pecking her and carrying on. All she did was run, and go back to the corner. Then he left her alone again, so I got an old pig trap that is also a perfect thingo for keeping one or two chooks in and put her in that by herself in the middle of the coop. She has her own tiny roost, feeding area, water, and nesting box (which she'll never use probably). The rooster doesn't try and attack her through the cage, but I notice she'll always walk to the opposite side of it when he goes near her.

How long will I have to keep her in here (30 days?)? Like I said, it was fine for the first two... three days, but this morning it all started. Wonder what went down in that time :S haven't seen her during the day lately cause of work, hopefully will get a bit of a look tomorrow though and I'll post a pic of my coop and what I'm doing with the cage.