My father's flock is currently 3 RIR hens and 1 sexually mature rooster. He has been raising 13 chicks whom are almost 2 months old now in order to increase the numbers of his flock, he also wants to add another fully mature rooster (which currently lives elsewhere) into the flock. What would be the best way to do this without creating a rooster bloodbath?
I wish I could give some positive input to that proposed scenario, but I can't see it working unless the birds are free range with a lot of space so that once the fight is resolved the loser has enough space to get away. An established flock guardian is not going to allow another mature rooster into his flock without a major beatdown. It's all about making sure that his DNA gets to carry on. Far better to 'grow' a young cockerel into the flock so that he knows his place.
Well, they are free ranged on 2 acres. And I was hoping that even though they have to share a coop, that the new rooster would form a new flock with the young birds....???
Probably not if they're all sharing the same space. The one rooster should still be able to cover 16 hens. It's not impossible for it to work, but there will most likely be a fight if you bring in that new rooster, and one of them will be an outcast not allowed to mate the hens anyway. Another thing to consider - the second-in-line rooster may at some point decide that he wants to try to become the flock rooster, causing more fighting. Personally, I wouldn't bring that second rooster in if you can't keep the old and new flocks separate.
I agree, best to introduce a young cock and let it learn it's place vs trying to introduce one that is already mature... Not saying it can't be done, you very well might be able to keep the new rooster caged in the proximity of the flock for awhile and he might be accepted without to much fighting but that all depends on the personalities of the two roosters... If neither willfully accepts being 2nd fiddle they very well might fight to the death...
I would be astonished if it worked. The current rooster is going to see those new pullets as potential mates eventually. I don't see any reason he'd willingly give them over to an interloper. And the two roosters aren't going to think "Hey, there's enough ladies to go around. I can have half and he can have half, or better yet, we'll let the ladies decide who they want and we'll just hang out and watch the game together".....nope, it's "He's a threat to my bloodline continuing and I have to prevent him from mating at all costs".
The only time I'd introduce a new rooster into my RIR flock is if they needed something to eat. We dropped in three new hens, over four months ago, and it still hasn't settled out completely. Best case scenario is that you're having to care for an outcast who can't/won't integrate because they want to be dominant. Lots of breeds are tolerant. Javas could care less who's in the coop. Turkeys love company. Our RIR's attack anything that isn't their flock, including the roosters(and hens) 6 week olds that are in the same same coop (but well protected). We have two roosters but they've been together since day one of hatching, and they still squabble every day. You can do it, but it's not going to be simple.
Adding those chicks will be enough of a chicken rodeo, unless a broody is doing the job. Adding another full grown cock could be a recipe for disaster....or at least a fair amount of bloodshed. Wondering why he needs another cockbird?
