Quick question....

[BandKfarms27]

I'm sure it's probably been asked and answered elsewhere.... I have a one year old barred rock rooster, and some new chicks, they are three weeks old and still in the brooder. The Question: how old do ya'll recommend your chicks be, before introducing them to a mature rooster? I am getting him a year old hen today, as he is definitely lonely, but I don't want to intro the newbies and have him be aggressive towards them. He hasn't shown any signs of that yet, but I'd hate to lose a new egg layer before they start producing...

Thanks, Ben and Kayla!

 

[lazy gardener]

I think you are more apt to experience the hen being agressive than the rooster. But, animal nature being what it is, you're going to have to evaluate your roo, and your chicks, and make that decision based on what you see. My roo is gentle with chicks, tidbits them. Does not breed them till they are close to POL. That being said, he has 24 mature hens to work with.

 

[elaineinspain]

I'm a complete beginner. My hubbie's just finishing building the coop outside, I've got my brooder ready inside, and I plan to order 6 chickens from a hatchery, all different races, all under 2 weeks old. My question is, will the different race chicks all get on? I mean some are quite big when mature, like barred rock, and some are really small, like silkie. Will they all be ok together, or will the big ones pick on the little ones? I'm thinking of ordering 1 silkie, 1 barred rock, 1 bielefelder, 1 leghorn, 1 biblue, and 1 binoir. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[realsis]

I'm a complete beginner. My hubbie's just finishing building the coop outside, I've got my brooder ready inside, and I plan to order 6 chickens from a hatchery, all different races, all under 2 weeks old. My question is, will the different race chicks all get on? I mean some are quite big when mature, like barred rock, and some are really small, like silkie. Will they all be ok together, or will the big ones pick on the little ones? I'm thinking of ordering 1 silkie, 1 barred rock, 1 bielefelder, 1 leghorn, 1 biblue, and 1 binoir. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

Just watch to be sure the small ones are not being picked on. What I did was make a separate sleeping area for my silkies. They don't roost like the others. Then in the large house I will put my 6 barred Rocks, 2 laced wyannadottes and 1 penciled Rock and my 1 Golden buff. They will sleep separate. Just keep a eye out to make sure no one is bullied.