Can you put any type rooster with any type of hens ?

[Metz]

I'm new to hens and have just bought a dozen for eggs. They are around 3 months old.
I'm looking for a rooster to put with them and wondering, can I put any type rooster with my hens ?
Can I put any age rooster with them or do they need to be similar ages ?
Thanks.

 

[DesertGrrl]

Just make sure your rooster isn't a huge breed (Brahma or Jersey Giant) or else he could crush/kill your hens with his weight while mating.

 

[Chicalina]

Hens this young are more likely to accept a rooster of any age. Older hens it is more difficult to introduce a rooster, so now is a good time.

 

[Acre4Me]

Just make sure your rooster isn't a huge breed (Brahma or Jersey Giant) or else he could crush/kill your hens with his weight while mating.

weve had a couple BJG - very large ones. Mixed flock of heritage breeds, all females smaller than the males. No one was crushed. Incubated snd hatched many that were clearly fathered by BJG. Of course, I should mention that the oldest hens seemed to avoid his attentions....were they old and grouchy or just wise and skilled at avoidance...I’ll never know!

 

[Acre4Me]

Generally, you can mix and match.
Do you want to hatch chicks? If so, will it matter that they are a mixed breed?

do you want to have a flock leader only?

Do you have young kids around or ones that visit? If so, I would reconsider a rooster as they can be unpredictable and kids are right at eye level if s rooster attacks.

if you’ve never had a rooster, you might do better getting one around 1 year old -good energy and fertility and past the hugely hormonal teen months. Also, the aggressiveness -or lack thereof - will likely be known by then.

 

[DouglasB]

Why do you want a rooster?

 

[SulkyBantam]

We have always had bantam cockerels with larger hens. This is actually great for us because bantams are protective but less aggressive. You can give him some of his own size hens too.

But this is not great for breeding.

I would give them a rooster not much older that them. 3-7 month old would be my suggestion. Roosters sometimes encourage your hens to lay earlier too!

 

[BunnyEberhart]

Here is a link to a video about how to deal with an aggressive Rooster. If you should happen to get one. Best to start at the first signs of agression and nip that in the butt. The video is a bit long but really worth it. I used his advice and my boy is a lap roo now. ^_^

My lap Roo named T-Rex

And if you want to see what an aggressive rooster looks like.. here is Kyle. Nobody wants a Kyle....

 

[DouglasB]

I dont think ole kyle understands english.

 

[Metz]

Why do you want a rooster?

To protect the hens, maybe breed some later, like to hear a rooster wake up call.