Hello! I am trying to figure out the best way to integrate my new rooster. I have 3 hens that have lived together for about 6 years now. It's been 2 years since our rooster passed away and we finally got a new 11 month old bantam Sebrite yesterday. My hens are a Buff Orphington, a Rhode Island Red, and some type of speckled that I'm not sure the breed. We placed our rooster in a smaller kennel inside their coop/pen area for about 18 hours today. When I got home from work I thought I'd let them meet closer so opened his kennel. They all clucked around then on an instant my females went after him. He was not aggressive back at all. He headed for the hills. I pushed the girls off and put him back in his own home. I really want them to accept him. Just more time? Any tricks? Or am I out of luck?!
Yes, more time is the key. Keep them apart for a week or so. Right now as the new kid in town he is skittish and your hens sense that and because he's new, treat him as an interloper. Here's a great article https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method. They just need a little proximity time in my opinion. Good luck!
If I were a tiny 20 year old guy, tossed in the home of a group of giant old ladies, I'd probably run too . Seriously, I think he'll be fine. You can do the "look but don't touch", or you can put him right in. Headed for the hills---does this mean not in a run? You'll need to confine him for a week or so to the run so he knows where home is. But besides that, yep, they'll run him around for a bit and probably make his life not so great. But, he's old enough, and Sebrights are usually cocky enough, he'll establish himself fairly soon.
Welcome to BYC! Agrees, time will help....and keep him confined for longer so he knows his new 'home'. Curious as to your choice of such a tiny cockbird.....he won't be able to fertilize the big girls(I don't think) and probably won't be much 'protection'. To cold, as well as inefficient, to keep those tiny birds here....but they are dear, I like miniature things.
