Mail-Order Chicks on Their Way but I am confused???

[Mary Chapman]

I've never separated roosters from the flock. I am having a problem with my Black Jersey Giant breeder rooster. He attacks my arm. But after I'm done with hatching their eggs him and her are leaving. My Black Copper Maran rooster is the sweetest ever. And so are my Malay roosters. My midget Cornish rooster I lost last fall would try to attack me as well. All roosters I raised from hatchlings. I think each rooster is different. Not just the breeds. But anyway, separating them is not needed.

 

[Fishychick]

I'm not sure why you think you'll get one rooster. You could get none, or you could get a few of them. My first "sexed" chicks were just two, Sugar and Spice, and Sugar was a rooster. You do not need to separate the rooster(s). It will be 4 to 6 months before all roosters are crowing and acting ornery. I've had two attacks in 20 years. One was via hawk (mom let chickens out to "play") and one was via a fox digging in. In both cases, a rooster gave his life protecting his girls but a hen was also lost. Roosters will certainly keep weaker predators back but most foxes or hawks will just kill the rooster first. If you have your chickens out free with no protection, expect losses by predators. If they had older chickens to teach them how to deal with predators, they might have a chance. In my experience, roosters raised when other roosters are around are much nicer than those raised without a rooster teacher. My latest rooster is super mean! I hatched him 11 months ago and hadn't had chickens in a few years so no adult teachers.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I like your suggestions...they make complete sense and being a newbie, I really appreciate your knowledge and input...Thank you for taking the time and providing good advice! Thank you, again!

Glad to help!

 

[featherhead007]

Shopping for TSC
Chicks is like shopping at Home Depot, "chicks? They are in isle 12 next to the hammers"! Not my idea of starting a flock. Just saying.

 

[featherhead007]

Great insight has already been given.
Iv'e been "chickening" for yeeeears lol!
I'll tell you they all have different personalities an aggressive breed can be a sweetheart and a docile one a thug. It really is a per chicken basis type thing.
Cockrels same thing, the only exception is it takes a bit longer to see their true character because they're ALL dorks when they're maturing to some extent.
Just relax, chickens aren't hard.
They are confusing, funny, and nerve wracking but not hard.

You forgot to mention "crazy cute"!

 

[HopeSprings]

I don't know if this helps or not, but at the farm on the Biltmore Estate lives the absolute nicest rooster I have ever met. He is a Wyandotte, I think golden laced? He is 8 yrs old and has always been the most friendliest and calmest guy.

I'll have to go meet him asap as the golden Wyandotte is one of the 8 breeds I have coming in May!

 

[analyticalblonde]

Shopping for TSC
Chicks is like shopping at Home Depot, "chicks? They are in isle 12 next to the hammers"! Not my idea of starting a flock. Just saying.

Hi featherhead007!

I think you misunderstood what I posted about...I would NEVER pick up my chicks from TSC..I ordered my flock (18 total) one-day old chicks from My Pet Chicken and they are coming in next week. I have researched for over a year and did my due diligence when selecting a reputable company to obtain my feather babies and all across this site members also love My Pet Chicken as well.

My questions were based upon what to do, when to do, how to deal with a potential cockerel as even though I ordered sexed females, there still isn't a 100% guarantee that that will be the case. And since I'm ordering 18 chicks, there is a possibility one, or maybe two, could turn out to be cockerels. Hence, my post here on what I should do.

I did purchase an integrated run & coop from TSC and I've put the link here for you to see...

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-welded-wire-canopy-coop-gc001

This integrated run & coop I expect to last only a year or two but gives my husband and me a chance to construct one that will suit our needs and the needs of our girls in the meantime.

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

They generally don’t start getting interested in the pullets until about 4 months or so.

I thought you said "They generally don’t start getting interested in POLITICS until about 4 months or so"!

 

[adstowe]

It doesn't specify the size of the coop it's self, but comparing it to the run and the size they give for that, I don't think it's anywhere near large enough for 18 chickens. I know they say 15, but prefab coops are notorious for dramatically over estimating the number of birds they can effectively house.

 

[CannedMonster]

I thought you said "They generally don’t start getting interested in POLITICS until about 4 months or so"!