Intro of me, and a rooster into my flock

[aart]

hello my name is Derek Elmer and live in Sydenham Ontario! Recently i aquired a rooster that is young and have been keeping him separated from my chickens as they are very mean to him. He is now bigger than the chickens but is totally not accepted into the flock. The hens attack him all of the time and i need him to be in the coop. What should i do???

How old is the cockerel("rooster"), in weeks or months?
How old are the "chickens"?

FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[aart]

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Kanga Roo
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

...and some tips about......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[bobbi-j]

How old is the cockerel("rooster"), in weeks or months?
How old are the "chickens"?

FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

You beat me to it...

 

[Kanga Roo]

How old is the cockerel("rooster"), in weeks or months?
How old are the "chickens"?

FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

The cockerel is roughly 3.5 months old and the hens are just over a year old.

 

[aart]

The cockerel is roughly 3.5 months old and the hens are just over a year old.

Yeah, he's gonna have a tough row to hoe.
He's young yet, not even in full testosterone mode.
It would be really good if you could keep him in an adjacent coop and run for a month or so.
How big is the coop and run, in meters by meters?
Dimensions and pics would help here.