Rooster..... what to do??

[K. Kolberg]

So, I found out that I have a rooster along with my new batch of chicks and I’m trying to decide wether or not to get rid of him. Now, the situation is this. My 4 big chickens, bully the little ones, I have the chicks separated, but they sometimes get out, and get pecked and chased by the big chickens. I was wondering if you guys think that my rooster would protect the baby chicks from the big chickens when I join them together, what do you think?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

If the rooster is the same age as the little chicks, then the answer is no.

Older, larger chickens harass younger, smaller chickens. It is the law of the pecking order.

Being a rooster will not prevent this. Very aggressive roosters show that behavior earlier, but still, a larger hen will peck down a younger bird.

All you can do is keep the birds separated but visible to each other. When they are old enough to safely introduce, usually about 8 weeks, or at least half size, then you can integrate the flocks leaving plenty of spaces for the younger birds to hide.

Also be sure to have separate areas for food and water so the large birds cannot haze away the younger birds from necessary nutrition and hydration.

As to keeping your rooster, that depends on your goals. If he is a nice, well tempered bird that you want to breed from, of good health and quality, then by all means keep him if you'd like to have fertile eggs.

A good rooster can help keep a flock calmer and keep a look out for predators (though they won't necessarily lay their life down for the hens).

A poor rooster is a menace to all.

If you don't need fertile eggs, and this fellow begins to show signs of being very aggressive with the hens, or worse, human aggressive, then re-home or cull him. It isn't worth the head ache.

LofMc

 

[CannedMonster]

The cockerel (rooster) is one of your chicks?
It will get beat up and chased by the older hens just like the other chicks.
And when he gets to be about 4 or 5 months old he will start trying to breed those older hens and the pullets he grew up with.
He will only be interested in that for quite some time.
You better figure out what you’re going to do with him.
How many females total will there be?

 

[meetthebubus]

Roosters can be a huge help to you. Sometimes they can be mean but roosters get a bad reputation that is undeserving.

They allow pecking order but they stop hen fights, dig holes for dust bathe, protect a hen in the nest box if she asks, makes a nest for laying looks for food and if you got him growing with them you have a better chance he will be good for you

I bought 10 chicks and got one rooster he has been good for them and to me

I bought 20 chicks later and got one rooster he is also good to them and to me

Your older hens will get used to the new ones just keep them separate for awhile whole being able to see them

On here you may hear negative things on roosters but they are a huge help and protect them so I say give him a chance

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Roosters can be great additions to any flock, if you don’t mind some crowing, I would definitely keep him. I have a rooster, He finds his girls treats, Keeps them in-line, Protects them, And much more. I have found that roosters are also much more inquisitive and interactive than the hens, And (in my opinion) the nice ones make better pets than hens.

There is a quote: “There are no bad dogs, Just bad owners”, This saying no is %100 true and applies to roosters. If he shows signs of aggression, There is always a way to stop that. Killing should never be an answer to an aggressive rooster. Even the worst of roosters can be taught respect.

If you do decide to keep the rooster, Here’s a guide to them.https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-definite-guide-to-roosters.49193/


I agree with @meetthebubus, Roosters do get an undeserving bad reputation, Mainly because people fail to understand them and kill them without even trying to teach them or teaching them poorly.