adding a rooster

[amymitchell]

I posted a different thread regarding my hens fighting. Ive tried separation and integration. Ive had it. considering a rooster for the first time. need input on how to add him. neighbor has 3 friendlies she is willing to give me one.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

coup is 4x6 ish plus extra space for nesting box. free access to run 16 x 8 ish

Hello again, I will need to figure out how to post pics. I though I found the culprit, separated her after watching dynamics. But went out this morning and initially wounded hen re injured on her feet. Does the no peck stuff work. I used Vaseline with tea tree for infection prevention. Im considering the rooster but will it attack me if I get a grown one??

I posted a different thread regarding my hens fighting. Ive tried separation and integration. Ive had it. considering a rooster for the first time. need input on how to add him. neighbor has 3 friendlies she is willing to give me one.

Those wounds are not from fighting. Do you have a lot of rodents?

Looking at your set-up and the wounds on your other thread, I would definitely check for rodents.
Not sure if adding a rooster to the mix would be good. What breeds of roosters does the neighbor have and how old?
If they are not free ranging, your space in the coop is fairly limited for 7 large fowl hens + a rooster.

 

[amymitchell]

Looking at your set-up and the wounds on your other thread, I would definitely check for rodents.
Not sure if adding a rooster to the mix would be good. What breeds of roosters does the neighbor have and how old?
If they are not free ranging, your space in the coop is fairly limited for 7 large fowl hens + a rooster.

not sure of rooster yet, I was going to look at them tonight, I was worried also about space but Im at wits end. This has been going on for over a week. What signs of rodents could I be missing? Also I observed some of the fighting but isolated the aggressor yesterday and woke up to a wounds again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

not sure of rooster yet, I was going to look at them tonight, I was worried also about space but Im at wits end. This has been going on for over a week. What signs of rodents could I be missing? Also I observed some of the fighting but isolated the aggressor yesterday and woke up to a wounds again.

Right, if you are waking up to wounds again when the "aggressor" was penned, then you need to try to figure out what's happening.

Can you post some photos of the new wounds? Possibly they are getting injured on a nail/staple, wire, something in the coop/run and then the others are picking at the wounds making it worse?

If you have a game camera that you can place in the coop or run to see if there's rodent activity that may be helpful as well.

 

[amymitchell]

yes, I had searched every where for sharp edges. they re injured same areas. a game camera is an option. also my neighbors rooster is approx 2 years old, my birds will be one year in july. I'm still thinking about if their space is sufficient. Update, went out this morning, the 2 injured birds safe and sound in isolation cage. No new injuries on other birds. So 2 in isolation and 5 others. let them all free range for a while last night, no fighting observed and they all were on perches before I removed the 2 to their cage.

 

[amymitchell]

If I decide to try the rooster, how should I integrate?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

yes, I had searched every where for sharp edges. they re injured same areas. a game camera is an option. also my neighbors rooster is approx 2 years old, my birds will be one year in july. I'm still thinking about if their space is sufficient. Update, went out this morning, the 2 injured birds safe and sound in isolation cage. No new injuries on other birds. So 2 in isolation and 5 others. let them all free range for a while last night, no fighting observed and they all were on perches before I removed the 2 to their cage.

If I decide to try the rooster, how should I integrate?

If setting up a game cam is an option that would be good. I must admit, I have cameras in my coop so it's a little easier at times to see what's going on sometimes (cameras don't cover or catch all activity).

A rooster may or may not "help" keep squabbling down - my observation is the hens still have their own pecking order/drama but a rooster does intervene if it continues. A rooster usually still allows the "head hen" to rule a bit.
A rooster may also add to drama that exists. A rooster may not be accepted by the hens.
It may all go very well - when you add or take away regardless of sex, it changes their routine.

A lot depends on how you feel about adding birds to a flock - some quarantine for a period of time to observe for signs of illness and check the new bird over for lice/mites. Others just throw a rooster in with the hens and sees how it goes.
You do need a backup plan...if the hens don't accept him or he turns out to be a not so good rooster - what are you going to do with him? Return him, do you have separate housing, etc.?