Best way to introduce a Rooster to your flock of ladies

[cluckey]

We ended up with a 5month old Welsummer that was hen raised...So, he was very very nervous/skittish when we got him home so he spent three days in the garage in a dog crate with a place to roost. He was very upset at first and did not like it when we were around him. But giving him treats and walking past him and talking and going on with our business helped. He seems to be pretty used to us now and not afraid when we approach him in his cage. Still haven't tried to handle him yet. He spent the weekend in our temporary small mobile coop parked out next to the ladies, where he could watch and see what was going on. I think one more week of that and we'll put him in a separate run next to the hens and see how her reacts. We are slowly getting there.

(Side Note: when we got him home i opened the cage to give him water and he jumped over me and ran into the woods. He was lost out there for 2 days and my husband and I finally found him and had to hunt him with a net when the sun went down. Therefore, I'm trying to do this very slow bc our ladies are free range during the day and I want him to know where his home is and want him to stick around and protect hens.)

I'll tell ya, this forum and website has been a life saver for raising chickens! So much good advice on here and knowing you are not the only with these experiences definitely helps!

 

[Tonia K]

Oh lol. I just realized we have "talked" before! I am the one who's roo was chased in the corn field by my dog!. Found a new roo someone is re-homing. Picking him up today just trying to make sure I have a "plan".. The last one I just put on the coop straight away and left him with the girls for a couple days before I let them all out to free range. They got the pecking order all straightened out and he adjusted quickly. He was only skiddish for about 3 days and then settled in nicely, was a great protector. Staring over. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

 

[cluckey]

You are right! LOL that is too funny!
Sorry to hear you never got your Roo back ;(
Sometimes I think I over think things and read so much about every step but in the end it will all work itself out. I had two sets of chicks two weeks apart in age and read everything i could about how to incorporate the younger ones with the bigger ones and when I put them in the run, separated by a makeshift gate, the baby chicks had climbed over the gate and hoped in with the bigger ones...So much for the careful, slow introduction steps. I'm sure your new Roo will adjust and your girls will show him the ropes. Good luck and keep us updated!