Is Daddy Roo ok with hatching chicks? HELP! I need an answer tonight!

[Keri78]

Hi All! I have a little red bantam roo in with my red batam cochin hen who is laying on a nest! Tomorrow is the BIG DAY...so should I take "Daddy Roo" out or will he be ok with the new babies? Thanks, Keri

 

[abanjaf]

I've heard it can go both ways, he may be okay with the babies but to be on the safe side I would take him out.

 

[lanietx]

from my experience, he will be curious and want to mess with them. but mama hen will put him in his place very quickly.
a mama hen is not something you want to mess with!
i would still keep a close eye on them!

 

[kathyinmo]

I have no personal experience, but I have read it can go either way. The roo can be very good, and quite protective of mama and babies.

 

[Bec]

Both of my roos welcome the new babies in and take good care of them along with the Momma's. They even accept older babies that are introduced to the flock. I'm sure things could go wrongs, but just keep an eye on him and see how he reacts. As mentioned above, the Momma will not hesitate to put him in his place!

 

[key west chick]

My Key West roo is wonderful to his chicks. I have never had a problem with them being in the same pen.

 

[paddock36]

I had a pair of Seramas and the daddy roo took care of them just as much as momma did.

 

[Akane]

If the 2 have been penned together for awhile now with no problems and he's not been too rough with her then I'd leave him. A pushy somewhat more agressive roo might bother the chicks and hen but usually roos like that will also require many hens or a large area to avoid overmating and causing injuries to the hen. If the roo has gotten along fine in a small pen with 1 hen he'll probably give in when the hen tells him to get lost. Just keep an eye on them especially in a very small pen to make sure no fights break out over it.

 

[willkatdawson]

Roo will be great with the babies and if he over steps his place the broody will put him right back in place.


This is a pic of our roo feeding Millies babies. I know it looks like he's trying to kill the baby, but he really is feeding it. He spends the better part of every day trying to fine tasty things for them to eat.

 

[Keri78]

Oh my goodness!!! That is the sweetest pic ever!!!

Thanks Guys! I did take him out yesterday but he got bullied so much by my Big Free Range Roo that I ended up putting him in the "grow out" pen with my 7 wk. old silkie babies and two very gentle frizzle hens. He's made out perfectly fine...he's not an aggressive boy. Maybe I will put him back with his girl today this way he can be there when the babies start to hatch. He pretty much minds his own biz. in the pen and only goes in the nesting box every once in a while to check in on Mama hen ...but doesn't bother her at all. When she has take breaks and gotten off of the nest to get a drink or roll in the dirt ...he stays right with her ...and it's sooo funny b/c I KNOW he wants to pounce her and mate with her but he restrains himself!

It's almost like he knows that something is up!

Anyway, maybe he will be a good Daddy...I'll post pics...hoping today's the day!