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

[le neige homme]

Okay, first off...you're going to quarantine this cockerel for 30 days, right?

Next, I would put him on the roost with the pullets at night. They are going to lay down the law for him, so be prepared to witness some hen-pecking and such, but it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully. He may lose some feathers. He's gonna take some abuse before he starts to man up.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Quote:
wow, sounds like a great intro that went very smoothly! congrats!

 

[savingdogs]

I was worried about bringing disease to my healthy flock since I have only one pen, but was lucky enough to find a BYC-er by placing an ad on Craigs List. She brought over a roo she had acquired as a chick from the same source that mine were from, so I felt more comfortable releasing him into my pen.
I also had an established flock with no roo. Mine just crowed for a half hour until we let him in with his new girls. They did have a settling-in time of about an hour and then I saw minor scuffles for a couple days. Mostly he was establishing his authority and conjugal intentions and they were getting used to him and ......falling in love.
They adore him now and he is a very good roo.

We even had an incident where a dog managed to attack and kill one hen. The dog had pretty much mangled it, so we just buried it in the yard and my son made a grave. Our roo hung out at the grave for a whole day sadly mourning his lady. It was so touching. He had never left the flock like that before or gone to the area where she was buried before. It was weird. He has forgotten her now but for at least a day, he didn't crow much.

We also enjoy the rooster crows, although I'm mostly deaf so don't really hear it very often!