inroducing a 10 week old rooster to an established flock of hens

[Jlucia]

Does anyone know if this is going to be okay? My rooster is sweet and can go to a good home, but the hens are huge and have been together for a couple of years. He's still young. Will they beat him up or just ignore him?

Thank you for any input!

 

[LoveThemBirds]

They will fight him,but he is liable to fight back.You betterw atch the first introduction....

 

[enola]

They will make sure he understands his place in the flock. Which means they will bully him for a while. IF you have enough space for him to get away from the mean ones, it might work. Personally, I think you should wait until 5-6 months old to introduce them.

 

[dekel18042]

They will make sure he understands his place in the flock. Which means they will bully him for a while. IF you have enough space for him to get away from the mean ones, it might work. Personally, I think you should wait until 5-6 months old to introduce them.

Yes, the hens might well beat him up. If you can put him in an enclosure inside the coop or run for a bit it might be easier on him, but that said last fall I introduced a little 9 or 10 week old cockerel to the flock which contained 15 hens and a rooster.
To make matters worse, he was a singleton and wasn't sure about the other chickens.
It did help that I added six pullets that were five weeks older than he was at the same time. I had tried to add him to this younger group but that was more difficult than putting him in with the adults.
Initially he did a lot of running to keep away from the hens (The rooster was fine with him.) but they would peck at him when he came near the feeder but not really chase him.
I would try it, but be ready to intervene if necessary. I add new birds at night and try to pick a time when something is going on to attract their attention, and add some new things, several large milk crates, triangular boards against the wire to make good hiding places and to attract the larger birds' attention.
Good luck.
Gradually he got used to other birds and they to him and now he's a big gorgeous rooster with the nicest temperament.

 

[Jlucia]

Thank you!