Adding a rooster to the flock

[sheetmetalpete]

I have a flock of about 20, 3 month old pullets. I've got six breeds in total - all heavies.

I started free ranging them during the day but I've been thinking it would be nice to have a rooster around while they're out and about. A friend of mine has a White Rock rooster that's about 7 months old. Is that too much of an age gap for my 3 month olds?

 

[sourland]

Your pullets are not sexually mature yet, and a mature rooster might harass them.I would get the rooster, quarantine him, and then introduce him to the flock when they start laying.

 

[silkiechicken]

I'd get the roo, do the 30 day quarentine, then the girls will be about 4 months old, which is still early to put them with an older boy, but if the guy has learned some respect to females, he may not be too hard on them and can go together. However, if the young roo still has a strong spunk at 8 months old, wait till the girls are 5 months or so before putting him in. I can safely let 2-3 month old pullets to range the same field as my roo, but he's a much older gentleman who I question even mates the older girls. Instead he just acts as a feather buffet by putting his head down and letting the girls eat off his pin feathers under his chin.