Integrating a rooster in with hens

[yolkie]

So I posted last week about getting a 3 yr old rooster for my six 2 yr old hens. I picked him up last night and left him in a crate in the coop so the hens would wake up with him. Today I have him in the pen with them, but separated by a chain link fence. I'm just confused because I thought he would be really interested in the hens, but he seems like he could care less. Is that normal? Also, how long should I wait until I put them together unsupervised? We put them briefly together this morning and one of the hens started flapping and pecked him on the comb... he didn't defend himself. I'm worried that I'm going to have a wimpy rooster! So if anyone could offer me a crash course in integrating that would be great!!!
Thanks!
Also, this is a picture of him... I was told he is a Jersey Giant, but he has a green iridescence in his feathers, and has feathers growing on his legs and feet.

 

[bronxangel]

I need help with this too. A rooster made his way to my house and hasn't left since Christmas. I recently built a coop, but was waiting to put all the new birds together in the new coop. He has been sleeping in the garage. Today I went to pick up two hens that someone didn't want anymore. I put the hens in the coop and then the rooster went in. One hen (a mean one) tried to dominate him, but he wouldn't have it. Then after a while, they would both fight with him one at a time. He began pacing and I could see his anxiety. I opened the door and he came out and followed me back up to the garage. When the girls are used to their new coop, I will free range them. Maybe they will get along outside the coop and then they will get along together inside the coop.

What ever happened with the integration of your rooster?

 

[taterbug41]

I put a new game rooster in with my hens this morning and all they did was fight i'm going to just wait it out a couple days and see wut happens as long as none get hurt in the process what do yall think the reason is that they would be fighting I figured he would have been in love lol

 

[yolkie]

I ended up letting the rooster loose on the outside of my hen's pen for a day, then I fenced off a section of their pen and put him in there for about a day, then on the third day I put him loose with them. My hens would peck at him occasionally but they managed to work it out. At night I kept him in a dog crate in the coop with the hens. Hope this helps!

 

[Mrs. K]

Put him in, and don't look. You are just prolonging it. They will all need a flock adjustment, they will all live. And in a few days, they will all be in love with him. Your flock dynamics do change with a rooster. A lot of people notice it, and most people like it.

MrsK

 

[farmin4fun]

I have to agree with MrsK. I've integrated roosters with hens many times. Chickens have a hierarchy of dominance. When you integrate a new bird to your flock that changes the hierarchy as chickens all want to be the leader. Roosters are almost always the most dominant bird, but the hens won't like taking second place at first. They will try to dominate/fight him. This won't take too long because the rooster will quickly establish himself as the leader. There might be several fights, but things will calm down after a day or two.

The worst thing you can do is keep putting him in and pulling him back out. Doing this will cause them to fight for dominance all over again. Just put him in and leave him and things will be just fine. I think you will love having a rooster once you get past this initial stage. I love having a rooster.

 

[taterbug41]

I left my rooster in the coop with my hens and all is well in the hen house lol...they are getting along fine now guess it just takes a few daz. Problem solved.