Adding a rooster to my flock ... ?

[Rick&Chris]

Yes a 15 month old rooster can be considered mature. Different roosters have different personalities, just like different hens. If he is not mature by 15 months I would not keep him.

As for integration, I'd definitely do it when you can observe during the day. What typically happens with a mature rooster when he is introduced to a flock of hens that have not had a rooster around is that he immediately mates with a couple of the hens to show they are his flock, he is in charge. He WOW!'s them with his magnificence and self-confidence and they are his. That's when it goes well and it usually goes well, especially with as much room as you have.

Sometimes the dominant hen does not wish to relinquish control of the flock and she does not accept his authority. Usually he is bigger then her. That can lead to a fight but what is more likely to happen is that she runs from him. He chase her down and forcefully mates with her. He may attack her, especially by pecking at the head. I had something similar happen once, but that was with a cockerel that came of age, not a new mature rooster. They kept that up for two days until she finally accepted his dominance. Then they became best buddies. Yes, it was violent while it was going on.

Even with a mature rooster and mature hens it can be rough when you integrate. He is going to mate with a couple of hens, that's how he takes control of the flock. Sometimes that goes really smoothly, sometimes there is violence. Usually with mature hens and roosters the flock very quickly settles into a very peaceful flock. Usually. But when you deal with living animals and their behaviors you don't get guarantees. Some roosters and some hens are just jerks. Everyone likes to blame the rooster but sometimes it is a hen that is the real cause of the problem. I've solved some of these problems by removing the hen, not the rooster.

You get different opinions on how much help a rooster is for flock protection. I'm in the camp that it is not much. A rooster typically keeps a watch, especially for flying predators, so he might be an early warning system. But the dominant hen in a rooster-less flock often takes on that role so not much improvement. One behavior that can be a benefit is that a good rooster will put himself between the flock and a perceived threat while he determines if it is really a threat. So sometimes the rooster is the one taken, not one of the hens. If a threat is identified, my roosters then lead their flock to safety if they can, they don't fight a rear guard action to give the flock more time. In two dog attacks that cost my a total of 13 chickens my roosters were unharmed.

Occasionally a rooster will attack a predator or a perceived predator. Typically these are small, like a small hawk, a squirrel, a crow, a cat. With living animals you don't get guarantees, you might even see a rooster attack a larger animal like a dog or fox. But that is not my experience, mine run away.

I consider this a personal decision. If you want to try a rooster, this one is probably as good of a one as you will find to try. Just have a plan ready in case it doesn't work out to your satisfaction.

Thank you for this!!! Still on the fence about taking him. I have what appears to be a nice peaceful flock at this time, everybody gets along, no bloodshed or injuries. I feel comfortable going away for a weekend, or even a week without letting them out of their enclosed run. I do have one dominant hen but she is not a jerk, luckily! She grabs and mounts my buff Orpington, but that’s about it.

The owner of the rooster told me that he fought off at Cooper’s Hawk and a red tail hawk to protect his girls - so that was enticing to me. But - If somebody else takes the rooster that was offered to me, I will not be heartbroken!

 

[Shadrach]

Yes 15 months is considered a mature rooster. He's still going to be pretty hot stuff for hens not used to having a rooster around.
That's a well thought out set up you have there btw.
Looking at your set up a rooster may work out.
Imo roosters work best in a free range situation. There are things roosters do when free ranging that they don't when confined. I wouldn't keep a flock without a rooster for may reasons. A few that are important to me is that I have a breeding colony where those that are predated or die are replaced by offspring hatched by mothers and cared for within a group.
Generally my thinking from the time I've been on BYC is for most keepers of confined flocks, roosters are going to be disruptive and hard work and often their keepers will not understand or like the changes that happen to their flock with regard to their interaction with it. Many of the roosters aquired in such flocks end up getting eaten; not necessarily because they are doing anything terrible but because they are doing what roosters do.
You may have got some insight from reading the article DobieLover linked to above. While it doesn't specifically deal with roosters in a confined flock situation it may give some warning about the changes

 

[Mimi13]

Everything that @Ridgerunner just said is spot on.

First off, I absolutely love your coop and run, but you would not want to leave a rooster confined with the hens in it.

Secondly, my head hens (top 2 or 3) keep a better watch for all predators, sounding the alarm much more than my cockerel does. I know he’s still young so that might change.

And lastly, after seeing your setup, if I were you I would not get the rooster. Instead I would do just a few things to your fenced in area. I would plant some trees and shrubs, not only for shade, but for protection as well. Build little structures with roosts that the chickens can congregate under for their daily dust bathing ritual, preening, or whatever. And the last thing I would do would be to work toward covering the entire enclosure with netting. This will not make your run predator proof, but it will deter aerial attacks. Maybe by erecting a few 4x4’s in the 60’ midline center, with attached 2x6’s, you could drape the netting from the top of it down 20’ on each side to the fence. (Think a big circus tent.) It doesn’t have to be exceptionally tall to do the job either. That way your hens could always be free ranging inside their netted enclosure. And with that large of an area they shouldn’t turn it all to dirt.

 

[Shadrach]

Everything that @Ridgerunner just said is spot on.

First off, I absolutely love your coop and run, but you would not want to leave a rooster confined with the hens in it.

Secondly, my head hens (top 2 or 3) keep a better watch for all predators, sounding the alarm much more than my cockerel does. I know he’s still young so that might change.

And lastly, after seeing your setup, if I were you I would not get the rooster. Instead I would do just a few things to your fenced in area. I would plant some trees and shrubs, not only for shade, but for protection as well. Build little structures with roosts that the chickens can congregate under for their daily dust bathing ritual, preening, or whatever. And the last thing I would do would be to work toward covering the entire enclosure with netting. This will not make your run predator proof, but it will deter aerial attacks. Maybe by erecting a few 4x4’s in the 60’ midline center, with attached 2x6’s, you could drape the netting from the top of it down 20’ on each side to the fence. (Think a big circus tent.) It doesn’t have to be exceptionally tall to do the job either. That way your hens could always be free ranging inside their netted enclosure. And with that large of an area they shouldn’t turn it all to dirt.

I think you will find if you look at the last picture the trees are inside the fenceline.

 

[Mimi13]

I think you will find if you look at the last picture the trees are inside the fenceline.

Oh yes, I see that now. Thank you. And with such said, I think the outer run should be fine without netting. Maybe a couple of things added on the opposite end for protection since the chickens cannot run under the coop. Anything that they can run under in the event of a hawk detection.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Just thought I'd add that you should probably quarantine the new fella. Good bosecurity is good...

 

[Aunt Angus]

And, I tell you what - this is one of the most difficult situations to get a handle on when seeking info on BYC. Everyone has different opinions. I added cockerels after a straight run gave me two. But the more I read, the more I think I don't want them. I'll be following this to read any further info you might get.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Thank you all SO much! I really appreciate the input and the advice - that is why I love this group. Yes, the opinions differ, but it gives a ton of food for thought.

I think for now I’ll hold off on the rooster. I really do have a great group of ladies that all seem to get along - even while ‘cooped up’ in the enclosed run, and they do seem to like me being their momma hen! We literally just finished the fence this past weekend and need to build a gate, and I do plan on adding some ‘stuff’ inside the fence in the open areas, I’m thinking a cute farm wagon of sorts, and I’ll definitely put something in the rear (although I kept the fence close in the back, about 2’ from the coop, to deter aerial attacks and try to keep them up front where I can see them).

And, yes, there are three large bushes - a lilac and two others of unknown species, inside the fenced area. I plan on adding a tree or two in front and side of the coop for shade on their roosting area of the coop - who knew that they would require so much planning and work! I love ‘em though! It’s worth it!

Again, thank you ALL for your valuable input and expertise!

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you all SO much! I really appreciate the input and the advice - that is why I love this group. Yes, the opinions differ, but it gives a ton of food for thought.

I think for now I’ll hold off on the rooster. I really do have a great group of ladies that all seem to get along - even while ‘cooped up’ in the enclosed run, and they do seem to like me being their momma hen! We literally just finished the fence this past weekend and need to build a gate, and I do plan on adding some ‘stuff’ inside the fence in the open areas, I’m thinking a cute farm wagon of sorts, and I’ll definitely put something in the rear (although I kept the fence close in the back, about 2’ from the coop, to deter aerial attacks and try to keep them up front where I can see them).

And, yes, there are three large bushes - a lilac and two others of unknown species, inside the fenced area. I plan on adding a tree or two in front and side of the coop for shade on their roosting area of the coop - who knew that they would require so much planning and work! I love ‘em though! It’s worth it!

Again, thank you ALL for your valuable input and expertise!

I just want to say, I think you are one of the very few people that have gone out of their way to build a run that chickens might actually enjoy living in and it sounds like your future plans will further improve this.
If I had to confine chickens to a run what you have built is something like what I would aim for.............the coop itself would not be nearly so fancy though.

 

[Rick&Chris]

I just want to say, I think you are one of the very few people that have gone out of their way to build a run that chickens might actually enjoy living in and it sounds like your future plans will further improve this.
If I had to confine chickens to a run what you have built is something like what I would aim for.............the coop itself would not be nearly so fancy though.

Thank you! That is very kind! We were on the fence about building a coop versus buying one, purchasing was the easiest option for us at the time, and way more than we wanted to spend. But probably a good thing we did buy it, it seems like every weekend has been involved in just putting up the fence! And it’s still not done! My goal is to stay married by the time this is all finished! Thank God my husband such a trooper ... and he loves his crazy chicken lady wife! LOL