Introducing Mature Rooster to Mature Hens

[Eilsel]

Hello all! I have a flock of 5 hens who are in their second year. My dad has an "extra" mature rooster that's getting a bit beat up in his free range flock that he has offered to give me. Here are my questions:

1. The hens are all currently going through their first real molt and on top of looking hideous are also not laying eggs. Would it be ok to bring him in now, or should I wait until the hens have re-feathered in more and/or have started laying again?
2. My hens generally free range during the day, but they do have a secure 8x20 run that I can lock them up in. Would it be better to let them all free range together at first or should I lock them in together? My thoughts are if they're all out and about there's plenty of room for them to run away/have their own space, but I'm afraid he may need to be locked in for at least a few days to know where "home" is.

I'd love to know your opinions on the matter as well as any other advice you may have.

 

[Skippersnh]

It should work out just fine I would start out with free ranging them together

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Currently all chickens should be in a low hormonal phase so everyone will get a long a bit better this time of year. I would expect everyone to be excited to meet each other. A mature rooster show sweet talk the hens, and be more respectful than an immature one.

I would just introduce him into the pen, so in case things don't go well you can catch him for separate penning. It will also help to home him to your place, so he doesn't run off if frightened.

If things don't go well right off the bat than you may need to pen him separately so they can become familiar through a fence. Generally 1-3 weeks is enough.

All roosters are different, so in the end do what you think is right, and tweak as necessary.

I would love to hear how it goes.

 

[FortCluck]

I would do the see but not touch method. I would put the rooster somewhere where everyone can see him but he is unable to get at them just so that everyone can see each other first. I would do that probably for a couple days and then I would let him be with them.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have adding a rooster numerous times to a all hen flock. I have added a rooster where as I took out the original rooster that had been their months, and added a new rooster.

If he is a mature rooster, let him figure it out. Mine are all in love by morning.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I would do the see but not touch method. I would put the rooster somewhere where everyone can see him but he is unable to get at them just so that everyone can see each other first. I would do that probably for a couple days and then I would let him be with them.

That's what I would do too....then you'll also have a 'safe' place in case things go side ways.

 

[Eilsel]

Thanks everyone! I should get him in the next week or two- then I’ll report back!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll be looking forward to what you decide and how it works out.

Personally I'd go with OHLD and Mrs. K's suggestions. Mrs. K has done it many times and been successful. Not sure about OHLD but I suspect she has experience with this. Mt experiences with this is pretty limited, I have to go back to childhood memories from many decades ago and what Dad did. I sometimes separate my dominant rooster for short periods of time but that is not a cold introduction. Most years I transition from a mature rooster to a cockerel taking over the flock since that suits my goals. That's a cockerel raised with the flock, not a mature rooster introduced cold like you are proposing.

What I'd expect to see if you just introduce them is that he mates one or two hens to show he is the flock master and it is pretty much over. The dominant hen might object to being dethroned, she might put up some resistance, but it probably will not last long.

I do see one possible flag. He is getting beat up in his current flock. Just how mature is he? Who is beating him up, hens or another rooster? I can envision several different scenarios of why he might be getting beat up but most of those are if he is still not totally mature. A dominant rooster needs to have a dominant personality. He needs to be able to WOW! the hens with his magnificence and self-confidence. How self-confident is he?

I've had cockerels mature enough to take over a flock by five months of age. That is rare but it has happened. I've had a cockerel that couldn't manage that until he was a close to a full year old. Others say it has taken longer for some of their cockerels.

Many people seem to think it is only the male. From watching my cockerels take over the flock I think the hens have a big part to play in how this works. Each hen has her own personality. Some are more willing to accept a male's or other hen's dominance than others.

It could be as easy as just putting him in that run with the hens. That would be my first try because it really can be that easy. But do it when you can observe and go from there.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I've introduced a lot of Roos and personally I like to just toss them in and they figure it out.

That said you have a smaller flock overall and if you want to be careful put the Roo in a cat/dog crate where he's out there by them but not able to actually touch them for the first day. After that I'd let him free and watch for a bit.

Keep in mind he is still a Roo and if he was the low Roo on the toem pole where he was coming from, he's going to still jump your hens. If they are molting and/or don't have many saddle feathers, his claws are going to tear up their backs and bloody them some. If they're really bare there, you may want to buy/make some chicken aprons. As silly as they are, they are super effective and non-intrusive.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A mature rooster shouldn't mate any hens out of production. A rooster uses the comb color and size for a visual cue as to who is fertile and who isn't. An immature cockeral, or just a bad rooster will mate hens out of production, which I don't tolerate here. In the pen for more maturing, or in the pot if it's over a year or two and should know better.

I've had some really great roosters that hens have adored, and some rotten ones that just mate, and nothing much else. There's more to being the rooster than mating and dominating. I prefer roosters that woo, and sweet talk the ladies, and that looks out for them and finds the food. With so many roosters to pick through it pays to find the keepers.