Switching Roosters/Adding To A Flock

[The Dapper Duck]

We have four acres, i don’t plan on having chicks every year so i’ll probably keep her. She’s a relatively good layer. But she’s also at the bottom of the pecking order, that might explain her attitude. Im hoping these bantams might bump her up on the order and she’ll be nicer.

I would still get rid of that hen for the sake of the flock. You don't want a trouble-maker stirring things up and affecting laying or attacking chicks. The next mamma hen might not be bold enough to defend them.

 

[MotherHen75]

I would still get rid of that hen for the sake of the flock. You don't want a trouble-maker stirring things up and affecting laying or attacking chicks. The next mamma hen might not be bold enough to defend them.

I mean she’s been here for a year, hasn’t killed anyone. She’s the only hen that actually goes into the coup at night rather than sleep on top of it. And right now we’re down to 5 laying hens, we sell eggs to friends. If we are going to get rid of her it’ll be sometime in the future.

 

[PattyNH]

I have a flock or 10, including one cockrel. I had 4 cockrels (3 Barred Rock and 1 Cuckoo Marans) and made the mistake of getting rid of the wrong BR because there was two I could differentiate Anyhow, I hope to get rid of him at some point because he's kind of a jerk to people - mostly my 7 yr old. He tries it with me but I always have an eye on him and clock him before he makes contact. BUT he is VERY good at keeping an eye out and alerting the girls - and ducks - when he recognizes a threat (we have a lot of hawks here). Anyhow, I have 2 sets of chicks in the brooders. I plan on outting their brooders in the coop once they are old enough to go off heat - the older group is 4 3-week old pullets and the second group is still under a week old pullets (allegedly). I will leave the chicks in the brooder inside the coop for a week and thenleave the brooder in the coop for a week with the door open so the chicks can run in to escape any funny business if needed as they acclimate to eachother.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I would still get rid of that hen for the sake of the flock. You don't want a trouble-maker stirring things up and affecting laying or attacking chicks. The next mamma hen might not be bold enough to defend them.

I've had that happen before