Put chicks in with cockerel?

[ClickityChick123]

Hi everyone, we have a couple five week old chicks and we want to put them with the rest of the flock in a couple weeks, but we also have a fifteen week old cockerel (whom we can't keep) that is just getting his spurs (little bumps so far). We have the chicks in a bunny cage in the big chickens' run so they can get used to each other before we actually put them together and no one can hurt each other and the cockerel is trying to get into where the chicks are. Is that aggressive behavior? Should we wait until he is rehomed before putting the chicks in?

 

[Rose Quartz]

at 5 weeks all of the adults would have a go at the babies. Even at 8 weeks the adults will be standoffish with them, but they should be big enough by then that they'll be alright. The cockerel is doing what boys generally do, he's protecting his current flock from unknown birds, possible threats in his mind.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not put the cockerel with the chicks. I would put the chicks with the hens, I generally do that 3-4 weeks of age, but I have a lot of clutter, a lot of escapes for chicks, and a safety zone, and a lot of space.

I would put the cockerel in what you had the chicks in. I would get him gone ASAP, it just gets harder and harder if you wait.

Mrs K