Adding to a flock with a cockerel?

[sahmhomesteader]

Last night I acquired 4 more 11.5 week old pullets. 2 golden laced wyandottes and 2 EEs.

I now have 6 hens (EEs,speckled sussex, barred rocks, golden comet) and 14 11.5-12 week old pullets (EEs, GLWs, black australorps, barred rocks).

That will equal 20 hens. I have only ONE EE cockerel also 12 weeks. I am concerned I do not have enough roos for my free range situation. We already lost one chick to a hawk several weeks ago. I have never had chickens before this flock, and my first roo experience started 12 weeks ago lol.

Should I go ahead and take a free 2 yr old EE roo from my friend? Will he try to fight with or kill my cockerel? With 10 ladies a piece will they be okay or is that not enough per roo?

My EE cockerel has already accepted the new pullets as his own, and although they are separated by chicken wire, was quite upset that I was messing with them this morning. They of course are scared from the move.

Any help you all could provide would be great.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

All your chickens are about 12 weeks old if I read that right. If you add a 2 year old bird in with them he may beat them up...depends on his personality.

Generally the best time to integrate chicks with adults is 16 weeks or thereabout. So you may want to wait just a bit to collect him if you decide to adopt him. Integrating birds that are too young with older ones can lead to injury and death.

Be cautious about disease as well. It is easy to bring in mites/lice/worms/respiratory disease from other flocks.

Generally the cock to hen ratio is 1:10 or so, for optimal results, and it is always good to have a "backup rooster" but I personally would be cautious about bringing in an adult bird from the standpoint of disease.

He may fight with your cockerel, to establish the pecking order. It depends on personality, how far they go.

I would definitely not bring in a 2 year old rooster at this point, in other words.

I hope this helps!

 

[southernflock14]

Could u find a roo around your other roo age. That way you could put them together and let them work it out while they are young. As for the hens 10 hens to one rooster is plenty. If you stick with the 2 y/o ( whatever you think best) I would wait for my pullets and roo to be big enough to defend theirselves

 

[sahmhomesteader]

All your chickens are about 12 weeks old if I read that right. If you add a 2 year old bird in with them he may beat them up...depends on his personality.


Generally the best time to integrate chicks with adults is 16 weeks or thereabout. So you may want to wait just a bit to collect him if you decide to adopt him. Integrating birds that are too young with older ones can lead to injury and death.

Be cautious about disease as well. It is easy to bring in mites/lice/worms/respiratory disease from other flocks.


Generally the cock to hen ratio is 1:10 or so, for optimal results, and it is always good to have a "backup rooster" but I personally would be cautious about bringing in an adult bird from the standpoint of disease. 

He may fight with your cockerel, to establish the pecking order. It depends on personality, how far they go.

I would definitely not bring in a 2 year old rooster at this point, in other words.


I hope this helps!

I have 6 2 yr old hens and now 14 pullets around 12 weeks old. Sorry that was confusing

Okay. I will see if my friend can hold on to him for a few more weeks. I really would like to have a second rooster for free ranging purposes. I did have the option to grab a 12 week old roo last night, but he was a New Hampshire Red, and I have no interest in the males of that breed as I have 2 very young boys that love the chickens.

So would you say to not bring in the 2 yr old in 4 weeks or would that be ok?