Adding a young Rooster to established flock

[Bigbluefrog]

I had a rooster eat layer feed and died at about 2 years old. Didn’t necropsy him, or care to. My entire flock has been switched to all flock feed and oyster on the side (multi generation flock + broody on chicks all the time it seems). My flock is much healthier when they can supplement themselves. My broody molted this year and didn’t seem to be as grouchy or patchy as last year.

I’ll never go back to layer

Thanks! Good advice- then just watch them.
Any tips on handling a rooster? Towel? Around spurs or that isn’t much an issue if only 7 months

 

[Tonyroo]

Spurs are not an issue at that age.

 

[aart]

All flock and calcium on the side.
okay, I will quarantine and probably fence him off a bit so he can meet and greet us and the dogs first

Isolating for a couple-few days so they can get a look at each other would be good.
But that is not quarantine.
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Any tips on handling a rooster? Towel?

I handle the same as females.
Off the roost at night both hands around wings, then 'football hold' under one arm.
Do exam, or just hold and touch and talk softly, then put back on roost.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Introducing a mature rooster to a flock of mature hens (or a flock with some mature hens) is usually the easiest integration possible. The rooster struts in, wow's them with his magnificence, mates a couple, and it is his flock. Occasionally the dominant hen objects to giving up her flock master position so it may get violent between them for a day or two. Usually when that happens it isn't that bad but I consider it your area of biggest risk. It can get pretty violent.

The question is "How mature is that 7 month old cockerel?" I don't know. I had one that was mature enough at 5 months. I had one that did not win them all over until 11 months. Most of mine are ready at 7 months but that can vary a lot.

Another part of the equation is the hens. Some will squat for practically anything in spurs, even if they are just tiny spur buds. Others may resist a fully grown mature rooster. I think that had a lot to do with why that 5 month old cockerel was able to take over and why the 11 month one had problems. A big part of that is on the cockerel and his self-assurance but part of that is on the hens.

I don't much like the idea of locking them in together overnight and hoping things work out in the morning. A lot of times integration goes really well, whether that is rooster to hens, hens to hens, or even chicks to a flock. Especially if you have room, it really can be that easy. A lot of people on this forum don't have that kind of room so it may not be that easy for them.

One way chickens have learned to live together in a flock is that when they have conflict the loser runs away. There may be a bit of chasing but usually if one does run away and can stay away they work it out. If one cannot run away the winner does not know it won and keeps attacking or decides to kill a rival. If the loser gets trapped against a fence or is in too tight a space to run away it is in great danger. My preferred method is to introduce them during the day so I can observe and they have as much room as possible to run away. If you try the after dark thing (which often works) I'd be down there first thing in the morning at daylight to see how it's going.

Any time you introduce another chicken to your flock you run the risk if disease or parasites. Many flocks have flock immunities, where they are infected or infested and are carriers but since they are immune they don't show any symptoms. Coccidiosis is a great example but there are others. It could be your flock infecting the newcomer. Quarantine doesn't do much for that. If a chicken has been exposed to another chicken in the past month quarantine is a great idea, that's what it was set up to handle. The way I look at it, if ("if" is a big word) but if the flock he is coming from has been isolated for over a month and the person taking care of them would recognize a problem if they saw it and was honest enough to tell you they have been in quarantine, just not under your eyes.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Young roosters especially at 7m can be introduced anytime to adult hens. He may or may not get picked on right off, but if he does... pay back comes later.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Introducing a mature rooster to a flock of mature hens (or a flock with some mature hens) is usually the easiest integration possible. The rooster struts in, wow's them with his magnificence, mates a couple, and it is his flock. Occasionally the dominant hen objects to giving up her flock master position so it may get violent between them for a day or two. Usually when that happens it isn't that bad but I consider it your area of biggest risk. It can get pretty violent.

The question is "How mature is that 7 month old cockerel?" I don't know. I had one that was mature enough at 5 months. I had one that did not win them all over until 11 months. Most of mine are ready at 7 months but that can vary a lot.

Another part of the equation is the hens. Some will squat for practically anything in spurs, even if they are just tiny spur buds. Others may resist a fully grown mature rooster. I think that had a lot to do with why that 5 month old cockerel was able to take over and why the 11 month one had problems. A big part of that is on the cockerel and his self-assurance but part of that is on the hens.

My older New Hampshire Reds do not squat and are the two queen bees. I found one mounting a younger one. One survived a fox attack and has been top dog after recovery.
Now they have a secure large fenced yard.

I think I will put him in the shed separate and let him get acquainted through a fence.
I want to make sure he doesn’t attack the dog. Our dog is super sweet and so good with the hens. She can be right in the pen with them and they get along just fine.
Thanks for all the information. I have 9 that submissive squat with me. So hope that is a good thing for the top. I read the Orpington are usually very docile.
I will oversee any interaction. Give him a space in shed which is in the fenced yard.
As I grow in experience I keep adding and adapting my Chicken care.

thanks for your help! I appreciate it!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Update: We picked up the rooster. He was lower on the roost, I saw two older roosters higher up. Very docile while just woken up, I hope he survives my sassy reds. Took him home in a dog crate, he was sound asleep in the crate like a rag doll, no fuss when I moved him. I read Buff Orpington are docile but wow.
I got him free, so we shall see what happens if this bird perks up in daylight.
Free because we got him from a nice neighbor who only wanted two roosters not 4.

 

[aart]

Free because we got him from a nice neighbor who only wanted two roosters not 4.

I think you're the 'nice neighbor'...for taking the cockerel off their hands.
Hope he works out for ya!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

He is shy of me. I got him separate from the ladies. He isn’t sure about the snow. Also I don’t see spurs? Maybe 6 months to 7 months. I heard him crow, just when I was thinking he was just a hen clucking in the shed. The ladies were curious but with the snow they all took shelter in their enclosed run. Big boy is staying in the shed for awhile til we see how it goes.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

We built a shed with an enclosure made for the birds so when I get chicks, a sick bird or a newbie. Then I have a separate fenced in area so they can go outside. And around that a large fenced in enclosure.