Reintegrating Rooster After Quarantine but Now There are Chicks!

[Anon112]

Hi Everyone,

My rooster, Poppy, had to be in quarantine for the last two weeks as he was recovering from surgery. He has been in a kennel in my barn. Over the last week, I've been letting him socialize with his hens for about 15-30 minutes each day (as per vet's orders).

I have two flocks that are housed under the same roof but with dividing chicken wire. Poppy is on one side with a few hens, and another rooster, Bernard, is on the other side. Generally the roosters get along okay (Poppy was the more dominant). In Poppy's absence, Bernard has been supervising all the ladies when I let them out to free range.

Additionally, during Poppy's absence one of his hens, Strawberry, hatched chicks and there are 5 little peeps running around.

I want to start thinking about the part where I transition Poppy back into the run full time. I have a large dog crate that lives in the run for "in house" quarantine. Maybe start keeping him in there during the day for a week or so? His behavior around the chicks is my main concern. I'm ready to deal with some pecking order stuff between him and Bernard.

I'm thinking of having him in the dog crate and let the chicks roam around a bit so that he gets used to them, but this is a really new situation for me and I'd be really grateful for any ideas/advice. Last year I botched reintegrating a hen and her chick into the flock and the chick was killed and I'm really haunted by that mistake. The last thing I want is for the chicks to get hurt.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

I would try the dog crate with chicks wandering around as long as to the chicks aren't aren't able to slip between the bars of the crate. I would do this for a couple weeks.

 

[Anon112]

I would try the dog crate with chicks wandering around as long as to the chicks aren't aren't able to slip between the bars of the crate. I would do this for a couple weeks.

They're still just small enough that they can get between the bars (as I discovered the afternoon trying to catch them to put back in their "nursery" where they spend the night).

Maybe I'll put Poppy in there for like 30 or so minutes in the afternoon while I very directly supervise over the next week, and once the chicks are a little bigger they can start to "free range" around in the run.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

That sounds like a good idea.
I've not ever had another chicken/rooster harm a chick but the chicks (whether they have a momma or are brooded) are kept in a separate coop/run right next to the big coop/run until I deem them big enough to integrate.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would be way more worried about the two roosters. They don't call it cock fighting for nothing. If the chicks are still with their mamma, I would not worry about the rooster and chicks.

 

[Anon112]

I would be way more worried about the two roosters. They don't call it cock fighting for nothing. If the chicks are still with their mamma, I would not worry about the rooster and chicks.

They had some VERY supervised time free ranging together today with me standing in the field with them. Poppy chased Bernard a few times, but no actual fights, thank goodness. (Bernard has seemed a bit . . . overwhelmed by being in charge of all the hens. The vibe is like a dad unexpectedly running a sleepover with 10 adolescent girls. I think he might secretly be relieved that Poppy is back).

After 30 or so minutes of free ranging, I put Poppy in a quarantine pen on his side of the run with his three hens. Bernard is on his side with his four hens. I'm going to continue to try and ease them back into their old routine (separated most of the time, but allowed to be out together during free range time). The hard part is definitely not rushing, because standing really close to them the whole time is very time consuming.

The chicks make me anxious because of what happened last year. Not knowing who killed the chick has weighed on me (all of the chickens are the same chickens who were there when the chick was killed). It's sort of worrying that Poppy being back might get the hens riled up and make a violent encounter more likely. I've had to keep the chicks visible-but-separate to keep them safe from some rats who have been intruding in my run.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts! If anyone has reintegrated a rooster in a similar situation, I'd be interested to hear how you did it! (Or even just thoughts about reintroducing a rooster after about two weeks of separation from the flock).

 

[Ridgerunner]

You do not get guarantees with living animals. I've read enough stories on here that show that anything can happen. So bear that in mind.

I have never had a mature dominant rooster even threaten a young chick. An immature cockerel, yes, but not a mature dominant rooster. Most of my dominant mature roosters leave the broody hen and chicks alone. They leave my brooder-raised chicks alone once the chicks are old enough to be out roaming with the flock. Occasionally a mature dominant rooster will help a broody take care of her chicks or will help the brooder-raised chicks, but mostly they leave them alone.

I understand your concern. You have not been through this before. You read stories from people on here that think all roosters are horrible brutes, a mortal danger to every flock member. There are roosters like that but I find them to be extremely rare. You need to pay attention to what is happening but I think you are obsessing over something that is highly unlikely to happen.

How has Bernard acted around those chicks? I assume they have been together?

Last year I botched reintegrating a hen and her chick into the flock and the chick was killed and I'm really haunted by that mistake. The last thing I want is for the chicks to get hurt.

Another reason to be concerned. Do you know how that chick was killed or did you just find it dead? I occasionally have a dead chick (though rarely). I've never had a chick killed by another adult flock member. I have had some other hens and immature cockerels threaten a chick but my broody hens promptly kick butt and change their minds about that. There have been posts on here by people I trust that say they did have a broody hen that did not protect her chicks from other chickens. You do not get guarantees with living animals but I trust my broody hens and dominant roosters. They have always come through for me.

You said you want to eventually get back to where you once were, with the two flocks separated. I'd just do it without worrying about gradually reintegrating the dominant rooster. With a dominant rooster you should not need to do that.

I agree with Mrs. K, your true risk after a separation is the two roosters fighting. From what you posted that does not look to be a big problem either. Definitely pay attention to what is going on but I think things are going great for you.