Introducing a mature rooster into a small flock

[OliveGrace]

I have 5 hens who are about 18 mths old. I recently lost my silver laced wyandotte to a predator. The person i get my chicken feed from has a large Maran rooster that is available for adoption. I would like to integrate him into my small flock for protection and to make a more natural flock. The rooster now lives in a run with two other roosters and about 20 hens.
How hard will it be to intro him? Since he is a rooster, how does that affect the pecking order?
I don't have but one coop and run. Will this be possible?
Thanks for any help.

 

[pennyJo1960]

You may want to have 10 or 15 hens before thinking of a rooster

 

[pennyJo1960]

The rooster would run your girls ragged at just 5

 

[getaclue]

It shouldn't be hard to integrate him. Do have a pen for him to go into every so often, when the girls backs get to looking too ratty, and bald. I tend to separate mine out about twice a year. Age plays a huge factor too. Experienced roosters tend to do less damage when mating, than inexperienced ones, so they don't show the wear as quickly. Some people use, and like hen saddles. They work.

 

[Morrigan]

You may want to have 10 or 15 hens before thinking of a rooster

Maybe. It really depends on the rooster. I have a young rooster now with 1 mature hen and 3 pullets at the POL, and the rooster is gentleman and no one is being run ragged. I've also had a rooster with 15 hens, and had bare backs and stressed hens.

How old is the rooster you are considering bringing in?

 

[aart]

I'd definitely have a place to keep him separated at first... and for later if needed.

Wait, was this bird a male?

I recently lost my silver laced wyandotte to a predator.

..and what about this:

Thanks so much for the thoughtful reply. Your analogies were very helpful for me to understand the process. I would love to have a rooster but could not even think of it without the collar. I am trying to figure it all out now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How old is he? Is he an immature cockerel or a mature rooster? There can be a huge difference in their behaviors and the hens' reactions. You don't get guarantees with living animals because they all have their own unique personalities so anything can happen. Usually introducing a mature rooster to a flock of mature hens is about as easy as integration gets. Usually. Typically he swaggers in, impressing them with his magnificence and self-confidence, mates with one or two, and it is his flock. It's possible the dominant hen doesn't want to give up her position as flock master so she puts up a fight (mostly more running away than actual fighting) but it can get violent. If he is weak and doesn't have that swagger the hens are much more likely to resist him. You always need a plan B in case it doesn't go well, but usually it is pretty easy.

If he is still an immature cockerel he is a lot less likely to impress them with his magnificence and self-confidence. The older hens, especially the dominant hen, may beat him up pretty badly and make his life miserable, possibly endangering him. He may try to force them which can lead to violence or it may be more chasing and running away. If you have a lot of room it can work out, but with an immature cockerel there is often a level of violence that is hard to watch. Sometimes, even in tight quarters, it isn't that bad. It's just that way with living animals, but always have a plan B in case. The personalities of the hens has a lot to do with it too, not just the male.

I don't believe in magic numbers when it comes to male/female ratios. My main breeding/laying flock is typically one rooster with 6 to 8 hens. I generally don't have those issues. The rooster is generally mature. I've had more problems with higher numbers of hens but I have a unique way of dealing with it when it does show up. I eat the hen. That gets her genetics out of the gene pool. I very seldom have these problems with the pullets I hatch. If I reduce that hen/rooster ratio (which some people think would make it worse) and the problem goes away I don't blame the rooster.

 

[getaclue]

There will be a 30 day quarantine, right?

 

[Skippersnh]

Hen to rooster ratios isn't true I have 3 roosters with 5 hens no problems at all
Go for it

 

[aart]

Hen to rooster ratios isn't true

Right.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.

It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.

Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc

It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.

Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.