Introducing a New Rooster

[Ravie]

Hi everyone,

I have 24 single ladies. They're 24 weeks old and consist of black sex-links, red sex-links and easter eggers. Currently, they're living in a hoop house and I haven't been letting them roam about outside the coop.

I am considering taking in a 2 year-old black Australorp rooster which is supposed to be friendly. His owners need to find him a home because the neighbors are sick of his crowing. I live in the country and welcome the noise!

Anyway. I know he should be quarantined for a few weeks, but other than that, I don't know how to introduce him to the ladies. Do any of you have advice for me?

 

[gritsar]

Others may do it differently, but...
After the quarantine period - which should be 30 days minimum - I would put him in with the ladies at night. Then be there first thing in the morning to make sure everything goes smoothly. Boy are those girls gonna be in for a shock when they wake up in the morning!

There's going to be some fussing - especially from your top hen that may not be all that willing to give up her spot at the top of the pecking order, but as long as no blood is being drawn, I'd let them sort it out.

Likely the girls will scream the first couple of times he tries to mate them, and the hens may actually pick on the roo, but sooner than you know it, he'll man up and get the girls in line.

 

[gmendoza]

Quote:
Yeah, the rooster will wake up in the morning and say to the top hen:

que chicken porn music

Rooster: Hey baby you lookin fine, and I see you brought some friends.

The rest is censored material.

 

[gritsar]

Also, don't freak if the roo crows alot at first. He'll do this to check out his territory (make sure no other roos are around) and then claim the territory as his own.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If he is coming from a fairly stable flock, where the flock has not been exposed to new chickens for a month or so, I consider quarantining him by himself a waste of time and effort. Many flocks have immunity to some diseases, cocci being a good example, but they can still infect other chickens. You can keep a chicken that is immune to a disease quarantined forever and you would never know that they can infect your flock. The way I would suggest you do it is to put one or two of your current flock in quarantine with him. That way you put only one or two at risk instead of your entire flock. Plus he gets some company.

If he is coming from a flock that has been exposed to a new chicken in the last month, yes, quarantine is a real good thing. I'd still put another chicken or two in with him to check for things he might be immune to. I also think it is a good time to worm him and maybe treat for mites and lice, just in case.

I really don't think it matters when or how you introduce a mature rooster to a flock of just hens. He should just step in, mate with a few hens to show dominance, and things are settled. Now if it were an immature rooster or if there was another rooster already in the flock, I would not say that.

 

[sourland]

Usually I agree with Gritsar 100% but I choose to disagree on the hens' reaction. I think there will be a group squat and all will be singing "Hey good lookin'.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

I dunno. Two years later I have a hen that still refuses to let Thor anywhere near her. She misses the former alpha, Zeus. Poor Thor.

 

[shellyga]

We had a similar situation recently but our hens had a roo who died.. we bought a 6 month old replacement rooster from a trusted flock so we did not isolate him at all. My hens accepted him without incident and seemed happy to have a protector around -- he is "friendly" with all the grown hens and has his eye on some of the more mature pullets..

So far they are not charmed

Shelly