Integrating single cockerel into large flock - tips?

[BarnyardChaos]

I have a single American Bresse cockerel 14-weeks that needs to be integrated into my main flock, and I need some sound advice on how to best manage it with the least risk of injury to him.

I have 46 hens and pullets, from 16 weeks to 3 years, in this flock - plus 2 roosters, 1 year and 2 years old. They are all hybrids of various heritage breeds - BPR, RIR, Black Australorp, EE, Araucana, and Leghorn. My two roosters get along famously with each other and are not aggressive to humans nor any of the hens. However, the younger rooster is fond of chasing cockerels around the run.

My coop is an old converted camper, 165 sq ft, that has a screen door divider wall across the middle, separating it into two halves. It is raised on blocks in the center of a large run, about 2000 sq ft, with lots of obstructions and hiding places. The back part of the coop with roosting bars and nesting boxes has a pop-door and ramp into the run. The front part of the coop has a couple of small roosts, feed barrels, and the entry door to the coop. No pop-door or access to the run, except through the back part of the coop if I open the dividing screen door.

I've integrated groups of pullets and cockerels into the main flock via this front part of the coop as a see-don't-touch area for several days, then opening the dividing screen door. It has worked well in the past and my youngest pullets tend to still hang out in the roosting and nesting area, as I keep food and water in there for them. But they do go in and out the pop door throughout the day and mingle in the run with no problems.

But this time, I've just got ONE to integrate. Does anyone have any special tips?

 

[BarnyardChaos]

This is the cockerel in question. (Those pullets in the photo and another cockerel have been separated into another pen, in hopes of making a breeding flock by springtime.)
Sam, here, is the spare roo:

I'd consider selling him instead, if that would be best for his welfare.

This is Goldie, the flockmaster who rules the roost. He's 3 years old, very attentive to his ladies, and such a gentleman:

And this is Roofuss, the young prince of the flock. He is 14 months old and also a gentleman. His tail was injured in a fight with an opossum last fall, and there is some scar tissue. He is one of the best all-around roosters I've ever had:

 

[BarnyardChaos]

l love Sam's resemblance to his distant cousin!

He's been placed in a dog kennel, inside a space used for integrating pullets into the flock, along with five of my oldest hens, who hang out together apart from the roosters. Fingers crossed they become buddies soon!

 

[rural mouse]

That is a challenge. Any hens feisty enough to thump the new one for being presumptuous while calm enough to relax around him and NOT the other roos favorites?

Edit: obviously, I'm thinking put him AND a few girls together in the look but don't touch area. Give them several days-a week together before letting the touch happen. When to let the touch happen would depend upon the ladies and his interactions.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

That is a challenge. Any hens feisty enough to thump the new one for being presumptuous while calm enough to relax around him and NOT the other roos favorites?

Edit: obviously, I'm thinking put him AND a few girls together in the look but don't touch area. Give them several days-a week together before letting the touch happen. When to let the touch happen would depend upon the ladies and his interactions.

I easily identified my three oldest hens tonight (3 years, 1 BPR and 2 RIR's), hanging on the periphery of Goldie and his 'favorites'. I do recall now that they were flockmates of an older rooster who had to be culled last year due to injury. They don't show any signs on their backs of being mated recently, or at least it's minimal. I'll keep watching for a couple of days more to be sure.

And this is exactly why I put colored bands on all of my chickens, to easily determine their age and flockmates.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

He seemed ready this morning, bunching with the older hens - so I gave him a pep talk, opened all the doors to the coop and hoped for the best.

We have an old camper converted into a chicken coop, set up on blocks, so there's about 14-15" of crawl space underneath. My flocks over the years have made dirt wallows all over under this camper, so it looks like a mine field with chicken heads peeking up over the rim of each hole. They LOVE it.

Sam has spent most of the day laying in one hole or another, or under different obstructions (old pieces of satellite dishes) or the stairs, or running around the various corners. He's a FAST sucker! He got chased a few times by the two older roosters, but they quickly gave up the chase as he easily eluded them. The hens - all 46 of them - pay him no mind at all. I strategically placed a few water and food dishes around the area underneath, so he won't go thirsty or hungry.

Integration is *almost* complete! I'm still watching him and checking several times a day, but it's going well!

 

[Mrs. K]

I think what is saving you is the number of birds you have, and the space and hideouts you have.

IMO - I think this will work, until it doesn't. It may work always, but making a prediction on a 15 week old cockerel is gambling. I like a good rooster, and I am not sure I would risk it with a newbie. I think what will happen is that as he ages, he will challenge the older roosters.

So I think you are good now, but I am not sure how long that will last.

Mrs K

 

[BarnyardChaos]

First night locked in the coop with 46 hens and 2 roosters - I wanted to get up very early to let them out and prevent carnage on Sam, but I overslept. But *whew* all was well No signs of fighting, no bunches of white feathers scattered, no blood - and the flock was calm. Sam was standing tall and proud on the very top roosting bar, other roos were on the floor, hens scattered throughout.

It occurred to me that as Sam matures, I may need to worry more about the other two roos, and not him. Hmmm.....

Meanwhile (unrelated to this thread but...) I may get a taste of Bresse chicken meat sooner than I expected anyway. When I went to check on my other four (one cockerel, George, with three pullets, Martha, Abigail, and Betsy) and let them out of their hutch --- George attacked my ankles, the little sh!t ! I'll of course give him a pass for now until he's maybe 1-year old, but if he keeps it up then, Sam may inherit the ladies instead and George will be dinner.

 

[aart]

It occurred to me that as Sam matures, I may need to worry more about the other two roos, and not him. Hmmm.....

More than likely, yes.

 

[aart]

Do you think behaviors like this would be influenced by some genetic trait in chickens?

Maaayyybeee...but I think it has much more to do with individual birds and the environment including other flock members.