1st time with Roo — merging flock ?s

[10xmama]

I’m not new to hens; but this is my first time with a rooster. I’ve got a flock of 13 older hens (between 2-5yrs old); and a flock of 7 young pullets and 1 Roo (all 14wks old). They are in two separate coops.

I would like to go ahead and merge my flocks. 4 of the pullets and 2 hens are being given away; and 2 old hens are being culled. So I will end up with the one Roo and 14 gals.

So my questions:

1) To merge, I usually do it at night. Simply going and moving them into the big girl coop in the dark when they are docile. Is this Roo going to be docile at night too? He’s a pretty feisty thing right now in the day.

2) Are my old hens going to fight him? Or will he hurt my old hens? I’ve got one old EE who is over 5yrs old... just as vigorous as ever, and she’s my fave ... sure don’t want him to cause her any harm.


Fwiw, the Roo is a Lakenvelder. Little guy, but my word he’s crowing up a storm and starting to go after people who enter the nursery coop. Hence my reason for wanting to integrate now; I think having the extra room will help him and us.... and I let the ones in my big coop out each day so he’d finally get a chance to be outside.

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[10xmama]

Correcting myself... I’ll end up with 12 gals and 1 Roo.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Hello, I have a Sebright roo and he is full of P&V, he held his own against my very big Golden Wyandotte Rooster (he gave his life for one if my hens against a predator ) He is very feisty! He was the only one we couldn't capture when we moved the coop..he roosted on the roof of the house that night in the rain and boy did he let me know what he thought about it the next day! ...now to your point..he is just as docile as my girls are at night.

Have the two flocks ever met? Or will this be the first time introducing them? Is there anyway they can be in the same area but kept separated like a dog kennel-so they can see each other?

 

[aart]

Are my old hens going to fight him?

They will likely kick his butt.

 

[Mrs. K]

And that ^^ will be good for him. I would also suggest putting them all in there before you give some away. Spreads the pecking out if there are a lot of them, but it does depend if you have enough space, then when it settles down before winter, pull the birds you are going to.

 

[Criticalicious]

If the roo is going after people in his area, you need to train him who's boss. Don't let that behavior continue.

 

[cmom]

They will likely kick his butt.

I agree this could happen. They will establish a new pecking order. Sometimes moving birds to a new coop will give them an attitude check.

 

[10xmama]

I sure appreciate all your insights!

To answer the question about seeing each other: the two coops/runs are side-by-side so the birds have seen each other all along. Hopefully that will help in the transition. The big girls are let out each day and often walk right up to the wire of the baby coop to check them out. Once the Roo crowed at one of the hens and she gave the wire a big peck and squawked.

As for the aggressive behavior of our roo (King Louis), he came at me this morning. It’s almost comical because he’s a little dude ... but he came at one of my daughters the other day and did scratch her. I’m new to this and don’t really know what to do. I was hoping it would calm down as his hormones even out? He was such a sweet chick... we handled him so much. So, tell me the best way to teach him who’s boss?

 

[10xmama]

Here’s a not so great shot of him — they are 14 or 15wks old

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, you might be in trouble with that rooster. Often times what people see as friendly behavior, is not. It is saying to you and especially your daughter, I am not afraid of you. In puppies, this is a good thing.Chickens equate fear with respect. For any two chickens, one is lower and appeasing to the wants of the upper chicken. If not appeasing enough, they are thumped or pecked, and if that doesn’t work, the attacks become more violent.

An attack on an adult can be frightening and cause damage. But to a small child, say under the age of 6, the attack can be at face level.

Often times a rooster raised with just flockmates, gets bigger and stronger than the pullets. Nothing is bigger to thump him, nothing above him in higher in pecking order. These can turn into bullies.

Often times a first time rooster owner mis interprets the cues that he is sizing you up.

If your daughter is under 5, cull the bird now. He is not worth her face. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of kids.

If she is older, get him in with the hens and see if they can teach him some manners, but if he is still aggressive to you, cull him.

Mrs. K