I have a single American Bresse cockerel 14-weeks that needs to be integrated into my main flock, and I need some sound advice on how to best manage it with the least risk of injury to him.
I have 46 hens and pullets, from 16 weeks to 3 years, in this flock - plus 2 roosters, 1 year and 2 years old. They are all hybrids of various heritage breeds - BPR, RIR, Black Australorp, EE, Araucana, and Leghorn. My two roosters get along famously with each other and are not aggressive to humans nor any of the hens. However, the younger rooster is fond of chasing cockerels around the run.
My coop is an old converted camper, 165 sq ft, that has a screen door divider wall across the middle, separating it into two halves. It is raised on blocks in the center of a large run, about 2000 sq ft, with lots of obstructions and hiding places. The back part of the coop with roosting bars and nesting boxes has a pop-door and ramp into the run. The front part of the coop has a couple of small roosts, feed barrels, and the entry door to the coop. No pop-door or access to the run, except through the back part of the coop if I open the dividing screen door.
I've integrated groups of pullets and cockerels into the main flock via this front part of the coop as a see-don't-touch area for several days, then opening the dividing screen door. It has worked well in the past and my youngest pullets tend to still hang out in the roosting and nesting area, as I keep food and water in there for them. But they do go in and out the pop door throughout the day and mingle in the run with no problems.
But this time, I've just got ONE to integrate. Does anyone have any special tips?
I have 46 hens and pullets, from 16 weeks to 3 years, in this flock - plus 2 roosters, 1 year and 2 years old. They are all hybrids of various heritage breeds - BPR, RIR, Black Australorp, EE, Araucana, and Leghorn. My two roosters get along famously with each other and are not aggressive to humans nor any of the hens. However, the younger rooster is fond of chasing cockerels around the run.
My coop is an old converted camper, 165 sq ft, that has a screen door divider wall across the middle, separating it into two halves. It is raised on blocks in the center of a large run, about 2000 sq ft, with lots of obstructions and hiding places. The back part of the coop with roosting bars and nesting boxes has a pop-door and ramp into the run. The front part of the coop has a couple of small roosts, feed barrels, and the entry door to the coop. No pop-door or access to the run, except through the back part of the coop if I open the dividing screen door.
I've integrated groups of pullets and cockerels into the main flock via this front part of the coop as a see-don't-touch area for several days, then opening the dividing screen door. It has worked well in the past and my youngest pullets tend to still hang out in the roosting and nesting area, as I keep food and water in there for them. But they do go in and out the pop door throughout the day and mingle in the run with no problems.
But this time, I've just got ONE to integrate. Does anyone have any special tips?