Introducing new BR roo to an already-established flock

[wischickenlover]

Hi everyone. We live out in the country on plenty of land, so all chickies are usually welcome here. We have a flock of 60 hens (4 banties) and 3 roos. The one roo, Crackle, is the "old Guy" of the flock, and has been with us since the beginning. He is a Banty. The other two roos, Peck and Scratch, are Crackle's offspring (with a Banty hen), and they know their place. My husband brought home a really nice roo six days ago-a standard size Barred Rock that we named Rocky. He got it from a farm that just had too many roos. He is a very good-natured boy-doesnt even mind being picked up or petted. I have not let him run with my flock yet, for fear of what he might do to Crackle, because he is only about half his size. Crackle has always been such a great roo-very sweet and gentlemanly, and protective so I would hate to see him get injured. I know they have to establish a pecking order, but I am very concerned about injury. Since he arrived, I have kept him in a fenced kennel, so that the other roos and hens have a chance to see him and associate with him. Each day though, Crackle goes to the fence, they peck at each other, bump chests through the chain-link, etc. They also have "crowing Contests". This has not seemed to change much since the first day. DH says we will try and put them together this weekend under a watchful eye and see what happens. Does anybody have any advice on how to ease the transition? Any advice on barred rock temperment? Thanks!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

My barred rock rooster isn't aggressive at all. He's still young though (approx. 6 months) , and was raised with other roosters. I've yet to see him try for any of the pullets and hens I have.

 

[speckledhen]

First of all, I love my Barred Rock boys! My main flock rooster is a Barred Rock I adore named Hawkeye. The best thing is to quarantine any new birds away from your flock for three or four weeks to be sure they don't have anything transmittable, but four weeks is best. That won't weed out any that are secret carriers of a disease they recovered from, but will get most things.
Not much you can do except let them work it out, I guess. It may look brutal, but unless there is serious injury taking place, they need to establish their new relationship.

 

[wischickenlover]

Thanks Speckledhen and Chickngurl........I really didnt know much about the breed, so that helps. He seems to be a very good boy-just very big. He towers over my Banty roo, which is why I am scared to put them loose together. My little guy may not have a chance.......

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I've never seen my bantam roos fight anyone to the death, just a little push and shove to see who backs down first. They even bow up to the big boys. Crackle may turn out to be the top roo, none of my standard roos will mess with my OEG bantam roos. The ones that mean business are the hens. If they don't like a rooster, they let him know it! lol

 

[wischickenlover]

HMMMMM, ok, maybe I don't have to be quite so scared to make the intros then! I will make sure I update!

 

[wischickenlover]

Oh yeah, I actually had two of the ladies go up to the new roo at the fence, and they pecked at him and gave him hell....wonder what that was all about!

 

[speckledhen]

When Hawkeye was released from quarantine and we put him with the girls for the first time, two of my three Wyandotte sisters gave him what-for! He put the third one and the first two in their places as soon as there was no fence between them and all has been well ever since. All my cockerels I hatched from Hawkeye or my friend's Barred Rock flock have been real sweethearts. It's my favorite breed, along with the Orpingtons running a close second.