MNchickaroo
Chirping
- Apr 12, 2019
- 92
- 200
- 83
We have two adult Buff Orps, a rooster and hen. They were gifted to us last winter (along with a second hen who didn't survive a dog attack). Since she is the only hen, her shoulders and head are getting very bald and she needs a break, so we were going to try and keep her or the rooster penned in the chicken tractor for a few days. The hen and rooster live in the chicken tractor, as up till now, it has just been them. They free range, early morning till dusk...and they love it!
However, we also have 22 5-week old chicks who are using the larger permanent coop at night and in bad weather. With that many little bodies (which seem to move at jet-speed) we have been putting them in a large free standing pen and moving it around every two days, afraid if they're free-range at this point we'll never be able to catch everyone. (This will be easier once we have the run all finished and connected to the coop...we'll be able to herd them in). The chicks are mixed sexes, 19 of them came in a SR order.
I was wondering if I could take advantage of the situation, and leave the hen in the free standing pen and let the little ones out with the rooster? She always wants in the pen anyway, because she sees the food! She has also shown aggressiveness towards the chicks (again, because of food). While the rooster seems to be just fine, letting the chicks pick at him through the fence and showing no signs of aggressiveness. In fact, he got upset when I had a little escapee I had to catch and return to the flock, and he came after me.
Has anyone ever used a rooster as a chick-sitter? Should I be worried he won't let me have them back! Would 22 chicks be too much for one rooster to watch over? I'm mostly hoping he'll just keep everyone together. Anyone done this before, advice would be great...maybe it's the dumbest idea ever!! Also, will he try and copulate with any birds that young?
However, we also have 22 5-week old chicks who are using the larger permanent coop at night and in bad weather. With that many little bodies (which seem to move at jet-speed) we have been putting them in a large free standing pen and moving it around every two days, afraid if they're free-range at this point we'll never be able to catch everyone. (This will be easier once we have the run all finished and connected to the coop...we'll be able to herd them in). The chicks are mixed sexes, 19 of them came in a SR order.
I was wondering if I could take advantage of the situation, and leave the hen in the free standing pen and let the little ones out with the rooster? She always wants in the pen anyway, because she sees the food! She has also shown aggressiveness towards the chicks (again, because of food). While the rooster seems to be just fine, letting the chicks pick at him through the fence and showing no signs of aggressiveness. In fact, he got upset when I had a little escapee I had to catch and return to the flock, and he came after me.
Has anyone ever used a rooster as a chick-sitter? Should I be worried he won't let me have them back! Would 22 chicks be too much for one rooster to watch over? I'm mostly hoping he'll just keep everyone together. Anyone done this before, advice would be great...maybe it's the dumbest idea ever!! Also, will he try and copulate with any birds that young?