Adding a roo; should I change my behavior with my flock?

[Trish1974]

I recently purchased a 9 month old cockerel to add to my flock of 6 mature hens. My hens are very tame. They follow me around like puppies. I can pick them up, carry them around, they will sit on my lap, and when they squat for me I give them a little tousle on the back. Yesterday I put the cockerel out in the integration coop which is one of those small store bought coops with the enclosed run underneath. I have the coop in the corner of the main chicken run and put a temporary fence around it so there is roughly 5 feet between the cockerel and the hens. He can see everything going on with them and me. I've been feeding them out of my hand in front of him in hopes he will see I'm not a threat and won't be so afraid of me. (He's skittish, but not aggressive). But then I wondered if that wasn't good for some reason? Also, should he see me handling the hens or is that not a good idea? Once he's in with the flock should I quit being so touchy-feely with the hens? The only experience I have with roosters is the constant flogging I got as a farm kid from my mom's RIR and WL roos, so I need some help here!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally don't hand feed my roosters and I expect them to keep a bit of a distance away from me as a sign of respect, 5-10 feet is a good distance.

My roosters don't interfere with my interactions with my hens. It will depend on how your rooster was raised. Hopefully he behaves himself.

Be confident, expect him to move away from you, never give him your back until you are more familiar with him, and know that he's going to behave.

 

[azygous]

There's no need to change your behavior with the hens. However, you will need to watch your behavior with the cockerel.

If you interact with him in the right way now, there should be less chance of him becoming a problem later.

Your demeanor is very important. You need to be slow, careful, and precise around him. On the other hand, you should behave with self assuredness, letting him know you are the capable leader of the flock, while his role is flock protector. If you are confident in your role, he will be more secure in his role.

He will require lots of time and room to grow into his role, and the best way to handle him is to pretty much ignore him. That is to say, leave him to find his own way with the girls, trying not to intervene unless he's overstepping his boundaries with you or other humans.

Discipline should involve restraint when he shows any aggression toward you or other humans, not violence or punishment. Slow, deliberate movements when you are near him will help keep him calm and help him to trust you.

There are many good rooster training tutorials on BYC. Read, read, read!

 

[BantyChooks]

There's no need to change your behavior with the hens. However, you will need to watch your behavior with the cockerel.

If you interact with him in the right way now, there should be less chance of him becoming a problem later.

Your demeanor is very important. You need to be slow, careful, and precise around him. On the other hand, you should behave with self assuredness, letting him know you are the capable leader of the flock, while his role is flock protector. If you are confident in your role, he will be more secure in his role.

He will require lots of time and room to grow into his role, and the best way to handle him is to pretty much ignore him. That is to say, leave him to find his own way with the girls, trying not to intervene unless he's overstepping his boundaries with you or other humans.

Discipline should involve restraint when he shows any aggression toward you or other humans, not violence or punishment. Slow, deliberate movements when you are near him will help keep him calm and help him to trust you.

There are many good rooster training tutorials on BYC. Read, read, read!

This.

I don't have anything to add to what's been said so I'll just say good luck.

 

[Folly's place]

Your mature hens may be a help with this new cockerel; they may squelch his behavior, and make him be a good boy until he grows up a bit more. This is a good thing! If he's already mature enough to manage them, that's okay too, but if they manage him, enjoy!
Walk around there as though you own it (you do!) and walk 'through' him, not around him. He needs to respect your space and move away from you at all times. HE IS NOT A PET!
I always wear shoes and jeans, not shorts and sandals; protect yourself in case he does try something. Handle your hens as usual; what you do shouldn't be a problem for him. If he thinks otherwise, correct him!
Beekissed has a very good article about managing roosters; read it!
Mary

 

[Trish1974]

Thanks everyone! I have done a lot of reading, however nothing really dealt with my particular issue of how I should continue interacting with my hens. I'm not so much worried about having a relationship with him; he's here to do a job. I am so relieved to hear I can still keep my lovey dovey hands-on relationship with the girls! I was afraid I would just have to "hand them over to him".

 

[Chickassan]

@Trish1974 ,I do everything with my hens that I'd do with a rooster that I'd do without. If you find yourself altering your routine and behavior to keep him he probably isn't a keeper rooster. That sounds awful, i know but its true.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks everyone! I have done a lot of reading, however nothing really dealt with my particular issue of how I should continue interacting with my hens. I'm not so much worried about having a relationship with him; he's here to do a job. I am so relieved to hear I can still keep my lovey dovey hands-on relationship with the girls! I was afraid I would just have to "hand them over to him".

He may come between you and your hens. He may see it as his duty as flock leader to lead them away from you when you go out there. Since my chickens aren't pets, I don't see this as a bad thing. Just don't be surprised if they become more dependent on him than they are on you.

 

[Maryandgailthedog]

Keep doing what you are doing! He will learn that his ladies like you so he will do so. If you do to him what you do with the girls he will become just as much loving as they are!!!!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We often go wrong by tying to out think a hen or rooster. It seems so easy but the truth is that chickens don't think for beans, they operate on instinct. I am afraid that your cockerel watching you hand feed "HIS" women folks in his presence will result in him thinking that you have amorous designs on his women folks. The out come of this could be a bad man or woman fighting chicken because a roosters instincts tells him to kill or evict any and all who mess with his females.