Adding a rooster to a flock

[zDrache01]

I'm somewhat hesitant to add this young rooster (5 months old) to our flock of 6 hens and 1 rooster. We're just getting started with raising chickens. Theyre all of the same breed and I was hoping to add this one for variety(I'm afraid of too much inbreeding). The chicken yard we keep them is in 24 x 10. I'm wondering if this would be a bad idea. I'd like to keep both the roosters without having to move either out of the pen, but im also afraid that the older rooster would harm the young one. Would it be ok to have them just work it out between them? Any suggestions? thx.

 

[Ferngully]

We have a few roosters that all live together in the "big coop", however they were all hatched and raised together or were added to the flock as babies. Everyone gets along just fine. I have 2 breeding pens of welsummers that share the same run fence on the back side, some were purchased as older birds. A storm came through, crushed the chainlink fencing, not only did I have to fix the runs in the storm, catch fighting roosters, I had to treat bloody battle wounds on and from the escapees from all 3 runs.

Moral to story: if they are raised together, most of the time they are fine. If not, fighting will ensue and it is not pretty.
You could build a breeder pen for your new roo and let him have some of the hens you want to breed or you can replace your existing rooster. I would not count on them living in harmony though.

 

[Lollipop]

You didn`t mention the age of the resident rooster. If he is mature, say 1 1/2 years, things may go smoother than expected. The young guy is marginal, but it might work, Usually the younger will recognize the superiority of the older cock, if he is young enough. I breed a lot of roosters. When they are weened, I put them in a large pen with a mature cock to police them and keep peace. I can usually keep game stags together for 8-10 months before things get outta hand. Of course there are always a couple trouble makers that have to be seperated early. Give it a try. May or may not be the right age combo. Like was said above, be prepared to set up another pen if it doesn`t........Pop

 

[Chickenmaven]

I would be worried about your hens being overmated by these guys. That's a high hen to roo ratio.

 

[zDrache01]

Yeah, the older rooster is about a year old. I'm hoping to get more hens im not too fond of having too many roosters either. thx for input everyone