introducing a rooster to an established flock?

[missychicky]

I have a flock of hens and i want to introduce a rooster. Should i get a sex-link chick or a pullet? i want my roo to be friendly like my girls, can you "train" a rooster to be nice as a pullet? Any suggestions?

 

[jenjscott]

I don't understand what you are asking should you get a sex link chick or pullet? for a rooster? Trying to "pet" a rooster sometimes works and sometimes you end up with a monster. you just never know.

P.S. Wyandotte

 

[Bring]

Ive had my new roo in the house. His quarentine ends march 1st. I let him out of his cage, he's a banty, and he walks around and now he's used to us. He even cuddled up to me and went to sleep in my hair. He's 7 months old. I've had him a week.

 

[snowydiamonds]

It depends on the rooster. Some will just go into a flock of hens and take over, mate the nearest one. Others will take off running from any hen that comes nearby. Then you have the gentlemen roos that court the ladies and take their time to win the hens over. I have one of those, he's BO/RIR (his mama is RIR) and I took him over to my back yard neighbor's coop for her RIR hens as she wants some of their eggs to hatch out this Spring. I knew he was this kind of roo so I brought him over earlier than my neighbor Lucy wanted because she expected the eggs would be fertilized immediately but that doesn't happen w/my "BP" who is named after his daddy Brewster "B" and his mama Patty "P" - we should be seeing some very nice 3/4 RIR and 1/4 BO chicks growing up this Summer

 

[Red&Yellow]

Oh my, good luck with this one.

I've had so many bad experience with introducing chickens, but I'm glad you're willing to try. It truly is hit or miss if you don't know the parents of the rooster. It is indeed better to get the rooster young, and when he grows, will (almost certainly) become king of the roost. I suggest, if you are looking for a specific breed, to get what your hens are. It is even better to get the rooster the same age as well and raise him with the hens. Unfotunatly, you can't tell till he is almost grown what kind of man he is going to be. Some will be good to people, bad to hens (not often, but possible). Others will be the opposite. Some will be a dream come true, tame to both man and hens. Well, that's all I've got to say, take it with a pinch of salt!

Hope it helps!