Introducing a rooster

trish5909

In the Brooder
8 Years
Nov 28, 2011
33
3
24
Erin, Ontario, Canada
We got a dozen Chantecler pullets last October to join our dozen year-old Red Sex Links. Their eggs had been fertilized so we decided to incubate some of them and hatched 7 chicks in November. We've managed to keep them warm & healthy all winter and one of them is a rooster. So far, we've kept the 2 groups separate.

We would like to combine the 2 groups which we will do by putting a fence down the middle of the run but I don't know how to handle things with the young rooster, who started crowing about a week ago. So far he is getting along well with the 7 pullets he is with -- no fighting etc. so I haven't had to separate him from them.

How should I introduce him to the other hens, who are much older than he is (the RSL are quite dominant). Is it recommended to do something with his spurs -- either trim them or remove them? -- or should I see how things go first? We are planning to expand their run this spring and they will be more exposed to predators, especially hawks so I would prefer to have a rooster who can defend himself, if possible.

(I'm also wondering about putting in another animal with them for protection e.g. a goat or something. We were planning on a run of about an acre, divided into 3 or 4 parts, with a total of (eventually) about 100 birds.

Anyway, I have no experience with roosters so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
If I understand, there is only the one rooster......

If so, I wouldn't do anything other than put them all together, I would think you will have more troubles with the hens getting along with everyone else.

Watch to make sure everyone is allowed to eat and drink, keeping two feeders and waterers available for awhile might be helpful.


Good luck
 
Yes, there is only one rooster but he will be very young so I don't know how he or the other hens will react -- I've been reading about other people's experiences on this site and now I'm nervous! I'll make sure to put the feed & waterers well spaced out. Thank you!
 
the rooster can take care of himself..... he might get picked on a bit but he'll man up soon enough and let the girls know whos running the show!!!!!
 

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