Changing rooster in my flock

[TexasSam]

I'm thinking about inviting my mix flock rooster and a cockerel over for dinner Sunday. I'm wondering has anyone added a new rooster to a existing flock and what i need to be aware of when I do? The new rooster is my Ameraucana and I will be adding the Ameraucana hens as well. Any thoughts on this guys?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It'll be easy peazy if your rooster is fully grown. However if you replace the old guard with say a 5 or 6 months old cockerel the old hens will likely dominate him until he gets his full growth.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not this last time, but the time before I was going to do everything right...and I forgot something at the house, when I got back the rooster had gotten out of his cage, and into the pen, and....

A lot depends on the age of the rooster, is he a true rooster or a cockerel, less than a year old?

As for adding the hens too, I go for a big change all at once, things will be unsettled for a day or two, but then it is over.

Mrs K

 

[TexasSam]

Oh the Ameraucana is 10 or 11 months old and quite large. The only thing is I am moving him from his comfort zone and putting him and five more Ameraucana hens in a flock of 20

 

[TexasSam]

This is a two month old pic

 

[aart]

Should be interesting....hope you post back how it goes.
Will probably have more trouble with the girls than that handsome cockerel.

Have they been all living within sight of each other?
Guessing you know the integration basics, but....

Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[chickens really]

Oh the Ameraucana is 10 or 11 months old and quite large. The only thing is I am moving him from his comfort zone and putting him and five more Ameraucana hens in a flock of 20

I say do it..He is mature enough to stand his ground..

 

[lazy gardener]

By adding him and his girls at the same time, he'll intervene to keep his girls from getting beat up. And if you add him immediately after removing the other roos, the old biddy hens won't have time to decide they will be in charge. Hopefully the Am cockerel is mature enough that he'll step right into command position. He's quite the looker.

 

[TexasSam]

Should be interesting....hope you post back how it goes.
Will probably have more trouble with the girls than that handsome cockerel.

Have they been all living within sight of each other?
Guessing you know the integration basics, but....

Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

They have been able to see and hear each other for a long time. The cockerel is a nice guy but he does get a little excited when new girls are around. I'm curious how the girls will be loosing their roo and getting another one in the same day. Plus 5 more girls should be fun. I will share what happens after a few days in

 

[TexasSam]

By adding him and his girls at the same time, he'll intervene to keep his girls from getting beat up. And if you add him immediately after removing the other roos, the old biddy hens won't have time to decide they will be in charge. Hopefully the Am cockerel is mature enough that he'll step right into command position. He's quite the looker.

So are you saying it is a good thing to do?