Leaving Tom in With hen When her Eggs Begin to Hatch

[dorthal]

Do any of you know if you can leave a Tom in with a hen when her eggs begin to hatch? Will he hurt the poults? My Heritage mixed breed had her nest in the same pen with the Tom. She is hatching today. One of the poults got away from her and on the other side of the pen. He did not appear to be trying to really hurt it. However, he had tail up, wings down doing his little dance. I put the poult back by it mom and moved him out. Should I leave him out? If so, how long? Anyone with experience in this?

 

[CoopCrazy]

I do not have any experience with it but have seen and heard of others who let them Tom help to raise the babes.. I would htink if he was gonna attack them he would have done so when he had the chance... Hopefully some othres with experience can chime in ...

 

[AVizcaya]

After watching my 3 brooding bourbon red hens this spring I would be sure to give her a couple days to herself with the poults until they get steady on their feet and she gets into a routine. They need to stay as calm and undisturbed as possible in the beginning because each time she gets stressed there is a chance she will step on a poult or let them get chilled while dealing the the issue that is stressing her. Just my two cents from my little experience.

 

[ziggywiggy]

No, don't leave the Tom in with the hen. I'm suprised he hasn't already destroyed the nest. He will try and mate the hen while she is brooding her poults. Very bad idea in my opinion.

 

[pdpatch]

Tom's have a one track mind this time of year, Mating . They will not care what is under foot when they do there strutting or mating. It is advisable to separate them.

 

[dorthal]

Thanks everyone, I did leave him out. I tried him one more time, but all he did was circle the hen in full display. I just moved him back out in another pen. He seems fine with the arrangement. He can see his hen. They are a mixed breed, looks a lot like Narragansett. She hatched 11 out of 12, there are several colors. I don't mind the mixed breed. I did butcher a Tom just like them, he was quite tasty. They are not as large as my Red Bronze and Bourbon Reds, but a meal for my family.

Thanks again,