Do I need a second rooster?

[Prim'smom]

i have an established flock of 2 year old hens (3) and a rooster. This spring, we've added 9 pullets which are between 12-14 weeks old now. They all stay in a henhouse at night and free range during the day but the two flocks stay separate and don't forage together. My question is, do I need a second rooster for this flock and if so, should I get one about the same age as the pullets?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

No you do not need another rooster. It always takes tome for new additions to become part of the flock (several months). They aren't mature enough yet. But as they get closer your current rooster will gather them into his harem. Adding another boy their same age is asking for trouble. Immature cockerels are overly amorous and not EVER welcome to my ladies. I raise them up first so they learn some manners. And if fertilization is your concern, do not worry he can easily cover them all, when the time comes.

Just give it time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

No for a few different reasons. Until the pullets mature enough to force their way into the pecking order, usually about the time they start to lay, they will form a sub-flock. Then they will merge into one flock. Then you have an excess rooster. A little patience is in order.

This part is my opinion. How much protection you get from a rooster is generally more myth than reality. There are exceptions, with living animals there are always exceptions, but my roosters are there to only fertilize the eggs. In the predator attacks I've had the rooster has always been unscathed. He may act as an early warning system with a few predators but when one is identified mine lead the flock to safety instead of staying in the rear to protect them or actually attacking the predator. some people will tell you stories of when a rooster did help but in my experience those are fairly rare.

If you get a cockerel the same age as the pullets he is still a boy. Don't expect much from him except his hormones will likely make you think he is harming your pullets. You may have seen that with your first chickens. Adding a cockerel to your flock is likely to disrupt the harmony of the flock a lot more than you want, now and later.

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree with ridgerunner completely about the protection factor.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Sub flocks will stick forever,inside every flock there always gonna be birds who clique together better then others,generally ones who grew together,stick together.
You don’t need one,but if you feel like another one would be fun,you could always get another one,and yes same age would be preferable.