I need a rooster!

[gimmie birdies]

I had a beautiful blue copper maran one time a hawk came and he was the the one killed. I had 20 hens or so at the time, so I am sure he died protecting them.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have a flock of 11 hens from 3 to 3 1/2 months old, and I want to add a rooster. I’ve found a couple on Craigslist, one is 4 months old and the other is 6 months old. Would either of these be okay to integrate? Also, any pointers on how to do so would be welcomed.

You don't have hens, you have pullets who aren't even at point-of-lay and those aren't roosters, they are cockerels in their teenage hormonal stage.

I suggest you wait until your girls are older and laying. At 4 to 6 months old a cockerel is most likely going to be rip roaring to go and your pullets are not of breeding age yet. Or get one now and keep him separate for a couple of months before introducing them. You'll want to quarantine him for 3 or 4 weeks anyway.

THIS!

If these are your first chickens, I'd suggest keeping them as a hen-only flock until spring and then getting a male -- either by getting the mature rooster as was suggested above OR by getting chicks and letting the adult hens raise the boy up as a good member of chicken society.

That advice worked very well for me though there are no guarantees that any given cockerel will mature into a good rooster who behaves properly toward his ladies and isn't aggressive toward humans.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

X2 they want out of dodge too.


This is how roosters protect their flocks:View attachment 3247286
distraction, a rooster won't last long against a predator, they usually fight whatever it is, get killed then the predator goes off on its way to kill a few hens. You're going to need more than one roo to cycle in as you loose them. A rooster will only last about 4-5 'attacks'.

Oh goodness

Roosters aren't going to protect hens apart from hopefully give a warning sound if they see something flying

This was the message I saw and was "correcting." They will protect the flock. Even if they die trying they are going to protect the hens, or at least do the best job that can

 

[I-Love-Pallets]

First, thank you to everyone for all of your input! I totally agree with the onus of protection being on the human. I am really fortunate that I have a lot of cover and I’m amazed at the girls’ instincts in running for cover anytime they sense danger. But I also believe the roosters are more “on the alert” and just hoping they can be my second set of eyes.

I did find what I believe will be a good option from someone in my area who raises show roosters. She had a 2 1/2 month old Favorelle whose dad is absolutely beautiful. He is just about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to introduce him to the flock with totally supervised visits. I’ll also let him free range inside my garden fence so he and the flock can get used to seeing each other.

I hope and pray I make all the right decisions. There’s certainly a lot more to consider than I realized before I posted my original question. And maybe I should have waited until spring like 3KillerBs said but I’ve already picked up the rooster. Wish me luck?

Thanks again!

 

[Aunt Angus]

First, thank you to everyone for all of your input! I totally agree with the onus of protection being on the human. I am really fortunate that I have a lot of cover and I’m amazed at the girls’ instincts in running for cover anytime they sense danger. But I also believe the roosters are more “on the alert” and just hoping they can be my second set of eyes.

I did find what I believe will be a good option from someone in my area who raises show roosters. She had a 2 1/2 month old Favorelle whose dad is absolutely beautiful. He is just about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to introduce him to the flock with totally supervised visits. I’ll also let him free range inside my garden fence so he and the flock can get used to seeing each other.

I hope and pray I make all the right decisions. There’s certainly a lot more to consider than I realized before I posted my original question. And maybe I should have waited until spring like 3KillerBs said but I’ve already picked up the rooster. Wish me luck?

Thanks again!

Well, then. There's only one thing to do now.

Post PICTURES!!!!

 

[3KillerBs]

First, thank you to everyone for all of your input! I totally agree with the onus of protection being on the human. I am really fortunate that I have a lot of cover and I’m amazed at the girls’ instincts in running for cover anytime they sense danger. But I also believe the roosters are more “on the alert” and just hoping they can be my second set of eyes.

I did find what I believe will be a good option from someone in my area who raises show roosters. She had a 2 1/2 month old Favorelle whose dad is absolutely beautiful. He is just about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to introduce him to the flock with totally supervised visits. I’ll also let him free range inside my garden fence so he and the flock can get used to seeing each other.

I hope and pray I make all the right decisions. There’s certainly a lot more to consider than I realized before I posted my original question. And maybe I should have waited until spring like 3KillerBs said but I’ve already picked up the rooster. Wish me luck?

Thanks again!

That sounds like a reasonable timeline to get those girls up to laying age before he joins them.

But a quarantine period before introducing him to any of your birds would be wise.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Following. Interesting thread.

 

[Brooks_]

about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to

Update on how that goes. It sounds like it will require a more traditional integration period.

 

[Folly's place]

Our Favorelles have been wonderful birds! Pictures! Updates! You have babies, see how everyone does as they grow up.
Mary

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Oh no, they will most definitely protect. Why do you think people have issues with roo's attacking them? They are trying to protect their flock!

Could not agree more!!!!

This was the message I saw and was "correcting." They will protect the flock. Even if they die trying they are going to protect the hens, or at least do the best job that can

They will protect, most likely they will die trying but usually they will try to protect.

First, thank you to everyone for all of your input! I totally agree with the onus of protection being on the human. I am really fortunate that I have a lot of cover and I’m amazed at the girls’ instincts in running for cover anytime they sense danger. But I also believe the roosters are more “on the alert” and just hoping they can be my second set of eyes.

I totally agree, my rooster, although in a predator proof run all the time, is always on alert and looking out for his hens.

I did find what I believe will be a good option from someone in my area who raises show roosters. She had a 2 1/2 month old Favorelle whose dad is absolutely beautiful. He is just about exactly the size of my meat chickens so for the next 3 weeks he’ll be living with them. I’ll keep him segregated for at least another 2-3 weeks after that, but start to introduce him to the flock with totally supervised visits. I’ll also let him free range inside my garden fence so he and the flock can get used to seeing each other.

I hope and pray I make all the right decisions. There’s certainly a lot more to consider than I realized before I posted my original question. And maybe I should have waited until spring like 3KillerBs said but I’ve already picked up the rooster. Wish me luck?

Thanks again!

Sounds like a good choice, Favorelles are gorgeous. I suggest this for integration: first at least 2 weeks of quarantinewith none of your birds, then 1-2 weeks of see don't touch with you pullets, then supervise him while introducing, do not tolerate aggressive behavior from him or your hens, if anyone is aggressive do short supervised visits until all is good, if everyone is good from the start then just let them be. Expect some pecks, that's normal when introducing new birds, the aggressive behavior I don't tolerate is cornering and pecking or chasing and pecking or repeated, hard pecking that could injure. You could break it up and not go back to see don't touch, if after breaking it up it keeps happening over and over then go back to see don't touch. I hope this all makes sense, if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Best of luck with your new boy and please update us and share pics!