Can I add another rooster to my flock?

[AltonaAcres]

We have a flock of about 17 hens with 2 bantam roosters and one standard rooster. We lost our other standard roo several days ago to a predator I found one identical to him on our local craigslist, and was wondering if add him without creating conflict between the roosters. The two bantam ones hardly pay attention to the hens, they mostly keep to themselves. The standard one is the "alpha" he is the one who does the deed usually. He has only been aggressive to one other rooster, his son, who ended up at freezer camp. This "alpha" roo never payed much mind to the one who died. The one who died was much bigger too. My flock is free range. Let me know your thoughts!

 

[Skippersnh]

i think because you free range they will have plenty of room for another rooster
they will fight at first to work out the pecking order which could take a few days so you will have to monitor them for that

 

[DobieLover]

We have a flock of about 17 hens with 2 bantam roosters and one standard rooster. We lost our other standard roo several days ago to a predator I found one identical to him on our local craigslist, and was wondering if add him without creating conflict between the roosters. The two bantam ones hardly pay attention to the hens, they mostly keep to themselves. The standard one is the "alpha" he is the one who does the deed usually. He has only been aggressive to one other rooster, his son, who ended up at freezer camp. This "alpha" roo never payed much mind to the one who died. The one who died was much bigger too. My flock is free range. Let me know your thoughts!

Your rooster will attack any adult rooster you bring in.
If you want to replace the one you lost your best bet is to hatch out some of your eggs in the spring and keep one of the cockerels.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree with @DobieLover I think the best thing to do would be to try to hatch some eggs in the spring, and keep a cockerel.

 

[DobieLover]

i think because you free range they will have plenty of room for another rooster
they will fight at first to work out the pecking order which could take a few days so you will have to monitor them for that

The problem is when they all retreat to the same coop. And roosters come equipped to do some serious damage to each other. It would be a major undertaking bringing in another adult male into an established flock all because the new guy looks like the one that was killed. It's just not worth it IMHO.

 

[Skippersnh]

they will fight until pecking order is established so having somewhere else for the new rooster to sleep at night the first few nights would be a good idea
hatching eggs is another good option but 50 percent of them could be roosters lol

 

[Folly's place]

I think that having some chicks in spring, and choosing a cockerel then, is a much better choice.
Having chaos in your flock, and injured or dead birds, won't be better now.
Mary

 

[perchie.girl]

what ever you do Quarantine him first you dont want to bring in something to your flock.

My roosters were pretty good top dog managed everyone... Scuffles yeah but no outright fights.

deb

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with above posters. The thing I haven't seen discussed is quarantine. Without a proper quarantine, bringing in a bird from another property, you are putting your entire flock in danger. Unless your don't care about that.
What are your plans for that?

 

[Mrs. K]

They don't call it cock fighting for nothing.