Rooster with younger girls

[gritsar]

Quote:
IMO It doesn't change how the hens act towards humans. You will however notice times in their lives when the hens don't want to be bothered by humans. My adult hens went through a grumpy stage right before they started laying. I'm going through the same thing with my almost point of lay pullets right now. In fact, not 5 minutes ago one of my salmon faverolles bit me when I went to pet her goodnight. It wasn't a friendly bite. Broody hens of course also don't like to be touched and make no bones about it. Also, when they are molting they prefer hands off. If I looked and felt like a giant, walking pincushion I probably wouldn't want to be handled either.

Just give them some time to get their chicken world all set up the way they like it and all will be well, I promise.

 

[cindy99]

Thank you! I will try again tomorrow.

 

[WisconsinChickenWhisperer]

Didn't reallly make a difference with mine, except that there were times when they came to me more often because they felt safe. Even my Anconas, who didn't have the time of day for me decided that my shoulders were a good place to go to get away from that darn rooster! Funny thing: I actually gave those 2 Anconas to the lady that I got the rooster from. Now they are still running from him, just at their new home. Bet they are thinking "what the heck?!".

 

[cindy99]

This morning I went out and let them all out. I spent a few minutes with them and then went in the house and shut the door! I didn't look back.

I did open the windows... everything was quiet though!

I just went out and checked on everyone... they are fine! Snowflake was pecking at the girls just a little but they didn't even seem to mind.

This weekend I will redo the inside of the coop so that they are all together at night too.

Thank you all for once again giving me great advice!

Cindy

 

[cgmccary]

I don't introduce youg pullets to roosters until they are older because I have had roosters hurt young pullets (whenthe pullets were about 4 mos old)-- I had a pullet get her wing broke one time by the rooster. I let young cockerels get trained with older hens.

 

[cindy99]

They are all about the same size right now so I am hoping that none of them will be hurt. I only have 1 rooster and 1 hen that are the same age and then 8 Buff Orpington girls.

This is Henry with one of the girls. Do you think that they are big enough to be with him? They don't seem afraid of him at all. Snowflake is causing more trouble than he is and she is the same size or smaller than they are!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I think they will be fine