Introducing a new cockerel - how to

[rachel9947]

I have different sized rare breeds running together. Recently my big Orp cockerel dropped dead of a heart attack. My big girls were lonely and lost, as they won't have anything to do with the bantam cockerels. I got a new Orp cockerel. He has been cooped separately for a week now, where he can see them and they can see him. He wants to get out and join in, but the bantam cockerels are still furious at his arrival. I have been putting the big girls in with him for half-an-hour each afternoon, so that he knows who his wives are. Any suggestions as to how I can move on from this to integrate him with the flock? He is a gentle giant, but the bantams are not.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

How old is this cockerel? Is he 18+ weeks and sexually mature? If he's not mature yet, treat him the same way you'd treat a hen you were introducing and expect him to be bullied by both hens and the other rooster.

If he's mature, since he's already been there for a week, I'd just put him in with the others. Make sure they're outside in the run so there's plenty of room for the loser to run away, and let them get on with the business of figuring out the pecking order. There may be a rooster fight. As long as there is plenty of room for the loser to run away, there should be no blood and no problem.

When I get new roosters, they are quarantined WAY out of sight and sound (and wind travel of possible feather borne diseases) for a month, then I just drop them over the fence during the day. The alpha rooster comes over to assert his dominance, and they decide whether or not it's worth fighting him. Usually, not. They work out their differences over the course of a couple of hours, sometimes some feathers are lost but blood is not, and all is calm again. Rooster pecking orders separate from and are a lot simpler than hen pecking orders, which tend to be somewhat subtle.

A couple of things--your bantam might win the fight, and your Orp might not be alpha roo. As long as they are OK with this outcome, it shouldn't matter at all to the flock. Also, you can't make specific hens belong to specific roosters. When you keep more than one rooster, they get to split up the hens, not you.

If for some reason one of the roosters isn't reasonable--they won't let the loser rooster run away, and box him into a corner to draw blood, or won't let the fight go even though the loser rooster is clearly showing submission by staying out of the way--then I'd get rid of that aggressive rooster (the winner).

 

[rachel9947]

Hi, Walking on Sunshine,
Thanks for this - very helpful to hear how other keepers do it! He is mature, and of course much bigger than the bantams, but I think he would run away from them. They are free-range during the day, so probably just open the door and then he's got about an acre to run away in. Shall try it.
Thanks, rachel

 

[donrae]

How old is this cockerel? Is he 18+ weeks and sexually mature? If he's not mature yet, treat him the same way you'd treat a hen you were introducing and expect him to be bullied by both hens and the other rooster.

If he's mature, since he's already been there for a week, I'd just put him in with the others. Make sure they're outside in the run so there's plenty of room for the loser to run away, and let them get on with the business of figuring out the pecking order. There may be a rooster fight. As long as there is plenty of room for the loser to run away, there should be no blood and no problem.

When I get new roosters, they are quarantined WAY out of sight and sound (and wind travel of possible feather borne diseases) for a month, then I just drop them over the fence during the day. The alpha rooster comes over to assert his dominance, and they decide whether or not it's worth fighting him. Usually, not. They work out their differences over the course of a couple of hours, sometimes some feathers are lost but blood is not, and all is calm again. Rooster pecking orders separate from and are a lot simpler than hen pecking orders, which tend to be somewhat subtle.

A couple of things--your bantam might win the fight, and your Orp might not be alpha roo. As long as they are OK with this outcome, it shouldn't matter at all to the flock. Also, you can't make specific hens belong to specific roosters. When you keep more than one rooster, they get to split up the hens, not you.

If for some reason one of the roosters isn't reasonable--they won't let the loser rooster run away, and box him into a corner to draw blood, or won't let the fight go even though the loser rooster is clearly showing submission by staying out of the way--then I'd get rid of that aggressive rooster (the winner).

This is great advice.

There can be lots of drama and explosive action when two roosters figure things out, but it's usually posturing more than anything. All the winner usually wants is for the loser to run away, and once they do that all is good.

Chickens don't see size the same way we do at all. Size rarely has to do with dominance in the animal world, it's all about attitude. That's how whippy little 100lb teenage girls can get 1,000lb horses to do their bidding

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Hi, Walking on Sunshine,
Thanks for this - very helpful to hear how other keepers do it! He is mature, and of course much bigger than the bantams, but I think he would run away from them. They are free-range during the day, so probably just open the door and then he's got about an acre to run away in. Shall try it.
Thanks, rachel

I've seen several flocks where a little Silkie roo is the alpha, and rides herd over full-size roosters. It usually only lasts part of the first year until the LF cockerel grows into his own and puts the bantam down, but with an Orp, they're so calm that they may just roll with it and let the little guy be on top.

 

[rachel9947]

Hi all,
I tried what 'Walking on Sunshine' told me, and all is settled! The boys fought for two days, the big Orp had to take on all the three bantams separately, but he won and now all is calm and peace. He sleeps in the shed with all the flock and the bantams have resigned themselves to his arrival! The big girls love him, and all the hens think he is a hero! The bantam cockerels are bloodied around the combs, but no wounds to the body. I have put Diatomol cream on their combs to help the cuts heal. Boris, the big Orp (named after Boris Johnson because he is large, white, and talks a lot), is virtually untouched. He is very happy to have gained his place in the flock but he doesn't mess with existing relationships between the bantams, so the bantam cockerels still have their wives. He is such a gentle giant, he didn't want to fight, but the bantams kept flying at him and he wasn't going to refuse the challenges. He is a lovely boy, so gentle, adores being picked up and cuddled - as do all the roosters. I am so happy he is happy and settled. Always the last one into bed now, as he stands outside the shed guarding 'his' flock. thank you very much 'walking on sunshine'!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Hi all,
I tried what 'Walking on Sunshine' told me, and all is settled! The boys fought for two days, the big Orp had to take on all the three bantams separately, but he won and now all is calm and peace. He sleeps in the shed with all the flock and the bantams have resigned themselves to his arrival! The big girls love him, and all the hens think he is a hero! The bantam cockerels are bloodied around the combs, but no wounds to the body. I have put Diatomol cream on their combs to help the cuts heal. Boris, the big Orp (named after Boris Johnson because he is large, white, and talks a lot), is virtually untouched. He is very happy to have gained his place in the flock but he doesn't mess with existing relationships between the bantams, so the bantam cockerels still have their wives. He is such a gentle giant, he didn't want to fight, but the bantams kept flying at him and he wasn't going to refuse the challenges. He is a lovely boy, so gentle, adores being picked up and cuddled - as do all the roosters. I am so happy he is happy and settled. Always the last one into bed now, as he stands outside the shed guarding 'his' flock. thank you very much 'walking on sunshine'!

I'm so glad this worked out for you!

Do be prepared for the bantams to try again next spring. Spring seems to be the time that roosters try to move up in the pecking order. We have rooster fights every single spring. As long as no one gets hurt, I'd let them work it out on their own.

I do like having roosters!