Roo, Hens, and new pullets

[LisaVMN13]

Good morning, We have an Ameracauna Rooster and 7 various hens that free range during the day.
We now have 8 week old pullets that are in a separate tractor that are so anxious to get out with the others.
The flock comes over to their run and forages around it, perches on top of it and are generally curious . I feed occasional
treats to both so they are eating side by side with the wire separating them. SO when is a good time to let the young ones out
and do we have to worry about the rooster trying to mount them? Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[sourland]

Generally the older/larger the chicks the easier the integration. Most mature roosters will not breed pullets until they are at POL. Cockerels are a totally different story.

 

[LisaVMN13]

Generally the older/larger the chicks the easier the integration. Most mature roosters will not breed pullets until they are at POL. Cockerels are a totally different story.

Our roo is 2years old. Thank you

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Since he has hens already, he probably won't. He may dance and grab a pullet, but he probably won't actually mount them.

 

[LisaVMN13]

Since he has hens already, he probably won't. He may dance and grab a pullet, but he probably won't actually mount them.

Thank you

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd let them out the next chance you have to be around and monitor what goes on. My brooder is in the coop so they grow up with the flock. I let mine out at 5 weeks without a problem. With living animals you never know what will happen, that's why I think you should monitor. At 8 weeks I'd think a hen would be more likely to be a problem than the mature rooster. Most roosters would see them as his offspring even if they look totally different and is more likely to take care of them than hurt them.

If those immature chicks invade the personal space of a hen they are likely to get pecked. That's the way the pecking order often works with juveniles. I'd expect the pullets to quickly learn to avoid the hens and form a second subflock until they mature enough to join the pecking order. With mine that's usually about the time they start to lay.

What I'd expect is that the rooster pretty much leaves them alone until they are ready to start laying. Not all roosters are "good" and the mating act is sometimes more about dominance than fertilizing the eggs, especially when they are not yet laying. But not at 8 weeks. They should be close to point of lay before any of that happens. While you never know for sure what will happen with any living animal, I'll repeat myself. Any problems you have will likely come from the hens.

 

[LisaVMN13]

I'd let them out the next chance you have to be around and monitor what goes on. My brooder is in the coop so they grow up with the flock. I let mine out at 5 weeks without a problem. With living animals you never know what will happen, that's why I think you should monitor. At 8 weeks I'd think a hen would be more likely to be a problem than the mature rooster. Most roosters would see them as his offspring even if they look totally different and is more likely to take care of them than hurt them.

If those immature chicks invade the personal space of a hen they are likely to get pecked. That's the way the pecking order often works with juveniles. I'd expect the pullets to quickly learn to avoid the hens and form a second subflock until they mature enough to join the pecking order. With mine that's usually about the time they start to lay.

What I'd expect is that the rooster pretty much leaves them alone until they are ready to start laying. Not all roosters are "good" and the mating act is sometimes more about dominance than fertilizing the eggs, especially when they are not yet laying. But not at 8 weeks. They should be close to point of lay before any of that happens. While you never know for sure what will happen with any living animal, I'll repeat myself. Any problems you have will likely come from the hens.

Great advice, truly appreciate it

 

[Mrs. K]

I would start by letting them out late in the day, then a littler earlier each day, eventually what I would expect is one or two brave chicks to follow the others to the main coop. Might take a while, when half your chicks are over there, shut up the chick coop.

Mrs K

 

[LisaVMN13]

I would start by letting them out late in the day, then a littler earlier each day, eventually what I would expect is one or two brave chicks to follow the others to the main coop. Might take a while, when half your chicks are over there, shut up the chick coop.

Mrs K

Thank you,sounds good to me