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[fresh]

Hey, so my husband and I just bought a rooster who is about 3 1/2 months old. He is in the coop but in a dog crate and we have 4 week old baby chicks in a brooder in the coop. When can I let everybody out? The coop is attached to a large fenced in area and that's where they will be kept.

 

[JNB]

Well I hope others with comment also that have more information. I know that Roos can hurt chicks and chickens that are smaller than them. So if it was me I would keep them separate until the chicks are full grown. Or probably at least 16 weeks. The Roo will want to set dominance with the others and make his place as boss so he will possibly be a bit rough.

I currently have a fresh laying group of hens that I am growing. The girls are now about 12 weeks old and I do have a Roo with them but he is 14 weeks old. Size wise they are comparable and he is just coming into his Place as the Man in the Group. H e picks at then and keeps them in line . He has claimed his place on the roost. So far things are pretty harmonious.

Yours sound pretty young and the age /size difference pretty different at this time. I know that with my adult chickens and Roo. When I add a hen the Roo will usually be semi aggressive with the new girl(s) for a bit until she submits. Its all part of the pecking order.

Good Luck!!

 

[BluePastelBird]

I agree. We just bought 6 baby chicks, a Rooster, and 3 hens. The Rooster was horrible to the chicks and appraently has a special hen he's sweet on. We lost 5 of our baby chicks within the first 2 days from a preditor. We think it was a Raccoon. We are very new to this and we thought we had done everything right. My poor grand children are here for the summer and were so upset. Well, we still have one baby left and she is now being protected by the Rooster and all the hens. She's hard to get to now because of it. Funny little things. We are picking up our new baby chicks this morning from the post office and are very excited. My grand children want to name all 30 of them. What fun these sweet birds are!! We are really enjoying them. Next, to make a preditor safe hen house and run. I will post pictures when we get that one figured out.

 

[fresh]

The rooster is currently in a dog crate that we have in the chicken coop and the chicks (all pullets) are in a brooder that is also in the coop. They are not mingling right now. If I took the brooder out, could I go ahead and let the rooster roam the coop and pen?

 

[ilovemy7chicken]

Why is your rooster in a dog cage if you have a chicken coop? He needs to see the chicks or he will not accept them. At 4 weeks old they shouldn't still be in a brooder unless you live someplace really cold. You need to introduce them with safety. I suggest chicken wire between them at first and handle your rooster as much as possible. Let him know that you are the boss not him. Are you sure they are all pullets? You need to introduce them slowly to him with supervision. Depending on the type of chickens you have, they could be full grown at 2.5 - 5 months old. Watch him and his mannerisms to make sure he doesn't hurt them and to stop him and correct him when he tries to. it's easier to do it in a open area of course. We free range our chickens every late afternoon for two hours. They love it, the kids love it and it becomes play time for everyone.
Hens can become territorial also when introducing someone new to the flock. It took mine almost 6 months to tolerate a newcomer. They might look at him as the intruder!

 

[fresh]

The chicks are one week old. We have 4; 1 Black Austrolorp, 1 Barred Rock, 1 Americauna, 1 Partridge Rock. The people we got everything from had the Rooster in a hamster size cage so when asked, they said the dog crate would be great because he couldn't be near the chicks. So they need to see each other but not actually be able to touch, right?

 

[BluePastelBird]

Poor RoosteR!! A Hamster Cage. But, If He's Agressive, I Guess You Do What You Have To.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Poor RoosteR!! A Hamster Cage. But, If He's Agressive, I Guess You Do What You Have To.

No, stuffing the rooster into a hamster cage is not "doing what you need to do", its neglect.

OP, I would let the rooster out of the dog crate so he can wander the coop and run and put the chicks in whichever temporary pen is larger (brooder or crate). If the gaps between the wire on the crate are a concern, wrap some chicken wire around the bottom so they can't slip out. Or, you could simply split the coop in half with some wire and run the roo on one side and the chicks on the other. Good luck!

 

[fresh]

No, stuffing the rooster into a hamster cage is not "doing what you need to do", its neglect.

OP, I would let the rooster out of the dog crate so he can wander the coop and run and put the chicks in whichever temporary pen is larger (brooder or crate). If the gaps between the wire on the crate are a concern, wrap some chicken wire around the bottom so they can't slip out. Or, you could simply split the coop in half with some wire and run the roo on one side and the chicks on the other. Good luck!

That is a GREAT idea! I'm going to take him out first thing in the morning and switch the chicks to the crate...now, they'll be able to see each other. Should I get a hen or two that is closer to the roosters age to go ahead and put in with him since the chicks are too young?

 

[ilovemy7chicken]

I'd start with what you have. I think you might have a harder time with bringing in new hens. It could be chaos! Right now it just getting a Roo to like Chicks and we know that will eventually work. Hens are different story. It can take them months to acclimate or never!