will rooster chick fight with his father?

[crazycluck86]

I hatched some chicks last week and have decided to keep a few for myself, one of which I think is a roo. The chicks are currently under a heat lamp, I have always had my chicks raised by broodys so when will be the best time to introduce the chicks to the rest of the Flock? my broody was back in with the flock when the chicks were four weeks old, but these chicks won't have a mother to defend them! I really would love to keep another roo, any advice is much appreciated.:-D

 

[Rich386]

I always let them stay in the coop seperate but where they can see each other for a few weeks.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Introduce them when they are physically close to the same size. Otherwise, the bigger chickens can kill the smaller. If you can do it, give them runs side-by-side until the younger are 18 weeks of age or so. They need different food from the adult hens until then, anyway. If they've been side-by-side, then you can just open the runs together one day and they should all get along fine.

Any two roosters will spar a little, blood relationship or no. As long as there's lots of space for the loser to run away, there should be no blood. They'll work it out. Now, if you're cramped on space, the winner might kill the loser if he can't get away.

You didn't say how many hens you have. You should have approx. 10 - 12 hens per rooster to keep them from competing over hens too much, or mating so much they stress the hens.

 

[crazycluck86]

I have 12 hens at the moment. Keeping them in a smaller coop within their run sounds the best idea. The breeder we got our boy from kept 7 roos together with no fighting, but they had obviously established a pecking order at some point. She said they were bought up together. We will give it a go as soon as they are off heat. Thanks for all your advice

 

[centrarchid]

Crazy,

I keep multiple adult roosters together from time to time. Often I tolerate some fighting which can make birds look crappy if you are not careful. Three or more rooster(s) together is easier to keep than two for long-term and consider keeping them separate from hens except when hatching eggs are desired. To make for less scrapping in a mixed age bachelor group I add cockerels to rooster(s) only group in pen separate from hens. Cockerels can be aged from 5 to 20 weeks for such to work. Generally speaking, I have found adult roosters to be more tolerant of new comers into their social group especially if newcomers do not challenge them. If you allow younger bird to mature too much, then you will have a scrap.

Show a picture of your pens indicating their size.

 

[crazycluck86]

This will be the main coop, its 20ft long by 9ft wide, I agree with adding them from a young age too. He tolerated 6 new chicks but, they were with there mother. They are out of their coop pretty much all day unless im out, and I do leave them plenty to do, hanging veg, hiding feed etc. Although thats more for the hens, the roo is on lookout all the time lol

 

[centrarchid]

For me, roosters are not the biggest problem for integration, rather it is the hens that are not mother to newcomers (or think they are not) and older juveniles. Sometimes rooster can actually suppress the aggression.


Can you partition off part of larger run for males? You flock size was not indicated.

 

[crazycluck86]

I have 12 adult hens at the moment. I think I will try the coop within the coop idea for a few weeks and if that doesnt work ill just stick with the one roo. I agree hens can be evil! Our poor roo was beaten up when they were fordt introduced, but he was a gentleman and stood his ground. Now hes the boss!