Adding a second, or back-up rooster?

[Morrigan]

I currently have a 5 1/2 year old rooster, Duke, who is a good rooster, but he's starting to get up there in years and his genetics are not quite what I want long term for my flock.

From chicks hatched out this spring, I have several very nice looking cockerels, around 8 weeks old now. I'd like to keep one as a back-up, and eventual replacement to Duke. It was my hope that Duke would keep the youngster somewhat in check during his crazy hormonal months, and they could co-exist for a year or two, until Duke is past his prime, and the youngster is more mature.

Crazy idea? I currently have 7 mature hens, 1 (maybe 2) pullets that are 8 weeks old, and plan to add 4 more females in a couple of weeks. Going into the winter, I'm hoping to have 12 hens, Duke plus the back-up. They have a large coop and a huge fenced yard, with lots of difference bushes, structures and spaces to hang out in.

Has anyone had this work for them? What are the early warning signs that Duke and youngster may be headed for problems? I'm going to try to select as mellow a back-up as I can -- realizing it's a bit of a crap shoot -- and am prepared to cull immediately if problems develop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I often will manage young roosters by penning them up if they are making troubles for a while, so definitely something you can try.

It is near impossible to predict how it will go as every rooster is different. I definitely would try. Worse case scenario is you remove one of them.

 

[Morrigan]

Thanks. It does feel very unpredictable right now. It's going to be especially hard to select the right "keeper" out of the cockerels. I don't hold or play with my roosters, and their personalities all seem pretty interchangeable at this point.

 

[lazy gardener]

Several years ago, I kept several cockerels in the flock with my avatar roo, with the expectation that one would eventually replace him. The 3 boys got along fine, Jack (the old man) tolerated the cockerels very well. But, I ended up culling both cockerels in November b/c they were harassing the hens too much (I had 17). Last spring, I brought a new cockerel into the flock to replace Jack b/c the old man was not able to "hit the target". Again, the 2 boys got along well together. It was a sad day when I culled Jack, but he had outlived his usefulness as a flock master.

 

[Morrigan]

It was a sad day when I culled Jack, but he had outlived his usefulness as a flock master.

It's going to be a sad day when it is Duke's time to go, as well. I primarily keep a rooster for breeding, but it's hard not to get attached. Duke's pretty mellow, so I'm hoping he can get along with the new boy for a while.

How did your hens adjust to Jack being replaced?

 

[lazy gardener]

It was seamless. Goliath shared the flock with Jack until the evening Jack was culled.

 

[Morrigan]

Meant to add that Jack was one handsome rooster. He must have made beautiful babies.

 

[lazy gardener]

He did. He was an EE, hatched from my own flock. He was a wonderful roo, took good care of his ladies, broke up any and all hen fights, and LOVED his babies. He would tid bit them, and accepted even the cockerels into his flock, even after they reached puberty. He loved to accompany his ladies to the nest boxes, and would search out new nests for them, always trying the nests out, fluffing up the bedding, and chuckling to them when he found a particularly nice nest site!!! He produced BSL babies with delightful little walnut combs, 50% of which laid green/aqua/or olive colored eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

My answer is maybe, I have raised chicks in the flock and had it go well.

Whenever I have a group of cockerals, there are always a couple that I don't want, cull them first, or even move them first to a bachelor pad. Pulling out birds does change flock dynamics. Often times this makes it easier, to make the next cut.

So my advice is don't cull all at once, always cull for the peace of the flock.

 

[Folly's place]

I try to keep a 'spare' for each of my breeding groups, for chicks hatched here, and it's tricky. Last year was a total fail on my part; kept two cockerels, both the wrong ones! They have moved on, so this year I'm again gradually removing cockerels that don't make the cut, so there will be three lest by fall, in addition to the three cockbirds, who are three and four years old.
I also gradually remove cockerels, and watch as things develop.
Mary