cockerels?

[SulkyBantam]

Dont worry, i had to work it out too!

 

[kelzey]

Dont worry, i had to work it out too!

off topic from this post, but i was offered a rooster today from someone in my town and if i were to accept, how would i go about integrating him into my flock? (i have three pullets right now) i know the whole see but don’t touch thing, but how long does that take? my girls are a little over 6 months old and the roo that i’m being offered is older than that i’m pretty sure. is that okay? breed is unknown, i asked the person who offered me him and he doesn’t know.

 

[Ebony Rose]

You'll need a space to house him where he can be seen, not touching for at least a month. The four week period of time is more a matter of ensuring that he is not sick or infested with internal or external parasites. If a veterinarian is an option, I'd have him tested for worms. If a vet is not an option, I personally, would prophyllactically treat him for both worms and cocci while he is separated to be absolutely certain he's not bringing those onto your property. Cocci lives everywhere, but there are several different types, and you cannot be sure that he's been exposed to the type that lives in your soil. The treatment will NOT harm him in any way, but could save him and you a lot of anguish if he should fall ill during his quarantine. The not knowing if he got it at your house, or from the previous flock he was in can be totally nerve wracking.
I anticipate that your pullets will gladly accept him once they have started laying, as you do not have any other cockerels or roosters in the flock. Personally, I would house him separately until your pullets start crouching when you approach them with your hand outstretched over them, hand open and palm facing down. For whatever reason, that posture tends to signal a pullet to crouch down as if submissively awaiting to be bred.
I make this suggestion because you've indicated that he's older than your girls and not knowing his prior living conditions or status within his flock, he might go hormone crazy and rape your pullets before they're ready; This can be a bloody mess (double meaning of 'bloody mess' intended).
Congratulations on the soon to be addition to your flock; a good, protective rooster is always nice to have. You didn't say if you have kids or small pets (like dogs), but if so, you will need to teach them to avoid the rooster and if that's not possible then to be assertive around the rooster. An example of assertiveness towards your rooster: let's say you're walking into the enclosure to feed the birds, You should NOT walk around the rooster, walk straight towards him, meaningfully and step over him if he doesn't move. A gentle toe nudge at the breast if he's THAT dominant that he fails to move out of your way. You cannot expect a chicken to learn English, so your assertive posturing around him is your way of speaking CHICKEN, and the message you convey with this behavior says "I am at the top of the pecking order around here, so behave!" Your rooster should take great pains to avoid being in your way or calling too much attention to himself when you're present. Children, and other members of the household ought behave in the same manner with him, each in turn, claiming their spot over him in the pecking order. This will make for a happy home.

 

[kelzey]

You'll need a space to house him where he can be seen, not touching for at least a month. The four week period of time is more a matter of ensuring that he is not sick or infested with internal or external parasites. If a veterinarian is an option, I'd have him tested for worms. If a vet is not an option, I personally, would prophyllactically treat him for both worms and cocci while he is separated to be absolutely certain he's not bringing those onto your property. Cocci lives everywhere, but there are several different types, and you cannot be sure that he's been exposed to the type that lives in your soil. The treatment will NOT harm him in any way, but could save him and you a lot of anguish if he should fall ill during his quarantine. The not knowing if he got it at your house, or from the previous flock he was in can be totally nerve wracking.
I anticipate that your pullets will gladly accept him once they have started laying, as you do not have any other cockerels or roosters in the flock. Personally, I would house him separately until your pullets start crouching when you approach them with your hand outstretched over them, hand open and palm facing down. For whatever reason, that posture tends to signal a pullet to crouch down as if submissively awaiting to be bred.
I make this suggestion because you've indicated that he's older than your girls and not knowing his prior living conditions or status within his flock, he might go hormone crazy and rape your pullets before they're ready; This can be a bloody mess (double meaning of 'bloody mess' intended).
Congratulations on the soon to be addition to your flock; a good, protective rooster is always nice to have. You didn't say if you have kids or small pets (like dogs), but if so, you will need to teach them to avoid the rooster and if that's not possible then to be assertive around the rooster. An example of assertiveness towards your rooster: let's say you're walking into the enclosure to feed the birds, You should NOT walk around the rooster, walk straight towards him, meaningfully and step over him if he doesn't move. A gentle toe nudge at the breast if he's THAT dominant that he fails to move out of your way. You cannot expect a chicken to learn English, so your assertive posturing around him is your way of speaking CHICKEN, and the message you convey with this behavior says "I am at the top of the pecking order around here, so behave!" Your rooster should take great pains to avoid being in your way or calling too much attention to himself when you're present. Children, and other members of the household ought behave in the same manner with him, each in turn, claiming their spot over him in the pecking order. This will make for a happy home.

thank you so much, that was really helpful! all three of my girls are actually laying already- the third one laid her first egg yesterday. no kids or dogs, only animal i have that goes outside is my cat and he knows to stay clear of the girls.. he has been chased many times, poor old man. i have a decent sized coop (7x10) so i could section off a spot in there for him? would that be okay?

 

[Ebony Rose]

Yeah, you can section off a good size space for him. He'll be there for a long while so he'll need some space to stretch his legs WITHOUT going into the run while he's quarantined.
Since your pullets have all started laying, you should be good for introduction as soon as he passes his one month quarantine; by that time, they'll all be well acquainted with each other and anxious to mingle. Your head hen may or may not immediately submit to him, but if she's slow to submit, don't panic. It sometimes takes a little time once mingled for a head hen to give over the reins of HER flock to a new leader. Not saying that it will happen that way, but it could, and don't want you to be overly worried about it.