Introducing new roo to pullets . . . questions

[KatyTheChickenLady]

My new roo is arriving next week (woo hooo!) he is about 6 months old.
The pulletts who are to be his wives are only 12 weeks (3 months).
Can I put him in with them now or could he hurt them? Or do they just ignore the girls that are too young to lay?

My question is not about isolation/quarantine; I understand that everyone has varying viewpoints concerning that issue. I am just hoping to hear from someone with roo experience

thanks in advance!

 

[faykokoWV]

I think you might want to consider a 30 day isolation before adding him to protect your current flock. If you can house him near the other chickens, it will give them a chance to get aquainted before they are together. Also, I have no experience with roosters, but I would think he might try to get friskie and I'm not sure they are old enough to deal with that.

 

[PortageGirl]

First off, you should really isolate any new bird so he doesn't bring any disease or illness to your flock. Oh, and for that 30 day isolation time, you don't want them to be breathing the same air, they can transmit disease if they can sneaze etc on each other.

After you're sure he isn't sick at all, I'd use a little caution, but really, roosters don't usually try to get "frisky" (if we're using euphemisms for interested sexually) with pullets till they’re ready to lay. Now, if a rooster is really obnoxious, he might possibly get aggressive with them in normal chicken ways, BUT, with him being new to the group, and they having their pecking order all worked out, he’ll probably be pretty low on the list, and have to work his way up. I’ve seen mature roosters be cowed by a top hen. Even though they’re younger, it would –probably- be ok.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

so then as a rule they don't mount pulletts until they are laying? These girls are so docile . . .

 

[PortageGirl]

right, he won't try till they're ready. Not that I've ever seen at least.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

oh good ! thank you

 

[michickenwrangler]

Our rooster (he is 3 yrs old, pullets were 4 mos when introduced) didn't start mating with them until he had been with the hens for a month or so.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Provided your pullets are reasonably full sized for their breeds by the time you take your cock bird out of quarantine isolation you should be able to combine them. Of course any time you add a new bird of any age or gender it's a good idea to keep an eye on them for a day or two.

.....Alan.