Possible problem?

[Slinkykat]

We got a little flock of 4 chicks to raise for a friend but sadly 2 died, to add more problems one is looking VERY much so like a rooster. The friend decided she couldn't have a rooster or just one hen so we said we'd keep them. Here's the main problem I'm worried about; it'll be monthes before they can live with our 8 chickens so is it going to be a problem that just ONE hen is going to be living with a rooster? They're still about 5-6 week old chicks and I don't see problems yet and they seem like the best of friends but I feel like it can only get worse. sorry if I was confusing! Thank you for any help

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Why will it be months before they can live with your other chickens? Is your coop too small? I integrate my chicks from 4-8 weeks of age without much trouble.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

As they grow older, the rooster will start mating the hen. And over time, he will wear down her back feathers from the constant mating. If you have to keep them away from the others, buy a hen saddle, it will keep the rooster from wearing her feathers down more, and prevent injury to the hen

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Why can't they go with the other chickens sooner? Having just one pullet with him shouldn't be a problem when they're young, but if you put them all together now you'll have less problems.

 

[Flock Master64]

We got a little flock of 4 chicks to raise for a friend but sadly 2 died, to add more problems one is looking VERY much so like a rooster. The friend decided she couldn't have a rooster or just one hen so we said we'd keep them. Here's the main problem I'm worried about; it'll be monthes before they can live with our 8 chickens so is it going to be a problem that just ONE hen is going to be living with a rooster? They're still about 5-6 week old chicks and I don't see problems yet and they seem like the best of friends but I feel like it can only get worse. sorry if I was confusing! Thank you for any help

I had 1 hen and 1 rooster living with each other for about a year and didn't have any problems. Just let one free range ( if you can ) and keep the other in the coop, then switch them after a little while. Mine were best friends like yours are and they didn't wander too far away from each other. I kept them together at night.

 

[azygous]

What makes you think you have to wait "months" to integrate these two six-week olds into your flock? The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

I brood my baby chicks along side my adult flock and by age two weeks, the little shavers are mingling with the adults with no problem. I use a "panic room", a safe pen with small chick size openings. The chicks use it until age ten weeks by which time they've outgrown the openings.

Give your chicks a week in the safe pen in the adult run and then open up the chick holes. Food and water are inside this enclosure so the chicks always get enough to eat.

 

[Slinkykat]

Why will it be months before they can live with your other chickens? Is your coop too small? I integrate my chicks from 4-8 weeks of age without much trouble.

Thank you for your help. I knew some folks who had chicks that were "bullied to death" and I guess I'm worried about the same thing. I've just heard from people when intergrating they should all be the same size or at least not be itty bitty. How do you introduce your chickens to each other?

 

[Slinkykat]

As they grow older, the rooster will start mating the hen. And over time, he will wear down her back feathers from the constant mating. If you have to keep them away from the others, buy a hen saddle, it will keep the rooster from wearing her feathers down more, and prevent injury to the hen

Thank you, we'll defenitly consider that

 

[Slinkykat]

I had 1 hen and 1 rooster living with each other for about a year and didn't have any problems. Just let one free range ( if you can ) and keep the other in the coop, then switch them after a little while. Mine were best friends like yours are and they didn't wander too far away from each other. I kept them together at night.

That could defenitly work. We can't exactly free range but we have multiple large runs that could work with that.

 

[Slinkykat]

What makes you think you have to wait "months" to integrate these two six-week olds into your flock? The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

I brood my baby chicks along side my adult flock and by age two weeks, the little shavers are mingling with the adults with no problem. I use a "panic room", a safe pen with small chick size openings. The chicks use it until age ten weeks by which time they've outgrown the openings.

Give your chicks a week in the safe pen in the adult run and then open up the chick holes. Food and water are inside this enclosure so the chicks always get enough to eat.

Thank you for that help. It sounds very clever idea.