We got a dozen Chantecler pullets last October to join our dozen year-old Red Sex Links. Their eggs had been fertilized so we decided to incubate some of them and hatched 7 chicks in November. We've managed to keep them warm & healthy all winter and one of them is a rooster. So far, we've kept the 2 groups separate.
We would like to combine the 2 groups which we will do by putting a fence down the middle of the run but I don't know how to handle things with the young rooster, who started crowing about a week ago. So far he is getting along well with the 7 pullets he is with -- no fighting etc. so I haven't had to separate him from them.
How should I introduce him to the other hens, who are much older than he is (the RSL are quite dominant). Is it recommended to do something with his spurs -- either trim them or remove them? -- or should I see how things go first? We are planning to expand their run this spring and they will be more exposed to predators, especially hawks so I would prefer to have a rooster who can defend himself, if possible.
(I'm also wondering about putting in another animal with them for protection e.g. a goat or something. We were planning on a run of about an acre, divided into 3 or 4 parts, with a total of (eventually) about 100 birds.
Anyway, I have no experience with roosters so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
We would like to combine the 2 groups which we will do by putting a fence down the middle of the run but I don't know how to handle things with the young rooster, who started crowing about a week ago. So far he is getting along well with the 7 pullets he is with -- no fighting etc. so I haven't had to separate him from them.
How should I introduce him to the other hens, who are much older than he is (the RSL are quite dominant). Is it recommended to do something with his spurs -- either trim them or remove them? -- or should I see how things go first? We are planning to expand their run this spring and they will be more exposed to predators, especially hawks so I would prefer to have a rooster who can defend himself, if possible.
(I'm also wondering about putting in another animal with them for protection e.g. a goat or something. We were planning on a run of about an acre, divided into 3 or 4 parts, with a total of (eventually) about 100 birds.
Anyway, I have no experience with roosters so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
