How to introduce a roo into an already established flock of females?

[dulcimer lady]

I have 9 female RIR's. They are about 16 weeks old. I will soon be acquiring a rooster ~ not yet sure how old he will be. I know I should keep them separate but in sight of each other for a while. But how long? And any advice for this transition would be greatly appreciated. This will be my first rooster experience. I originally did not intend to have a rooster so as to not irritate neighbors with his noise. But now that I have my flock one of my neighbors loves them so much and is longing for *me* to have a rooster, lol so he can hear it crow! So he is actually getting me a rooster! I want to make this transition as easy as possible for my girls.

 

[nzpouter]

no other rooster? leave him beside the pen for half an hour then throw him in...

 

[Mrs. K]

I just put him in with the girls. My girls were a year + old. He was a lot bigger. I have had chicken for several years now, but never a rooster. I was amazed at how much bigger he was! I had a neighbor who needed to rehome him, as they had 3, and this guy was on the bottom, and getting the sh@# kicked out of him. He did not have too many feathers.

My top hen, challenged him, and even knocked him down. But he jumped right up and got her down. Lasted a few minutes, and they seem to all be fine with him. He is kind of a 'chicken'

But he goes out with the girls so I hope that he will kind of be of help.

Our hen house is just the right distance from the house, as we can hear the crow, which is kind of neat, but not irritatingly hear it.

Mrs.K

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

The way to introduce a rooster, "Girls, this is your new rooster", Then put him down. The girls will keep him in line, until he starts courting.

 

[dulcimer lady]

Will he understand to go into the coop at night? I have anywhere from 2-5 of my 9 who try to roost on the roof of the coop at night. I literally go out there and put them to bed. They all did fine until the door accidentally blew shut 2 nights in a row. Made half my flock forget what they had done every night of their life...

 

[ShrekDawg]

I agree with the others, just throw him in...

lol hes a roo, he will be fine and im sure theyll be happy to have a new boyfriend/protecter, im sure theyll quickly get over whatever doubts they may have had within several minutes, theyll just be happy to have a new boyfriend!...

lol

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Quote:
Start off by releasing him in the coop.

 

[I'machickencuddler]

I have the same problem, so I hope you don't mind if I piggyback off of your post. We got chicks 4 months ago, and now we have two pretty girls and their 2 roos. However, we also have an existing flock of 5 two and three year old hens who have lived with roosters before, but only for a short time and haven't seen any males for over a year. One of the new roos took charge immediately and established himself quickly. Unfortunately, we had to get rid of him and now have the other, smaller roo. However, poor Checkers cannot get any respect from the oldies, who boss him around. The young hens have merged well into the flock, but Checkers is a little afraid of the other hens. Although, he still wants to breed, so he has resorted to getting up someplace high and actually ambushes the bigger hens.

As far as I know, he hasn't had any success. We wnat to use him for breeding, so this is a bit of a problem. How can we help him to become top-chicken? I don't want my baby to be a hen-pecked rooster!

 

[Keens2050]

Today I introduced our first rooster to our flock of 8 hens. (All are silver-laced wyandottes) Kept him separate for about 3 hours this a.m. (had screen to separate so they could see/hear him). Removed the screen and one hen went straight away at him and he held his ground. About two minutes later it happened again. All day they've been getting along great (of course it is 100 degrees here today). Then I observed hens going up into coop in and "Jake" was curious...he waited half in/half out at door for about 5 minutes and then went in with no squabbles. Phew!

 

[Lbrad7]

Just throw him in...he will know how to handle that situation.