Introducing new rooster.

[maybejoey]

Okay, I have 12 hens and one pre-existing rooster. I was given a little black silkie rooster today and need help introducing. I got a call from the avian sanctuary that I have adopted from recently, and they said that they just found a little silkie roo that is good with kids and is very nice. I was going to say no but I decided to go and see him and atleast give him a chance ( because if I left him he would have been eaten) and as soon as I saw him i was hooked. My pre existing rooster is a polish and is very nice and will even eat out of your hand. But i need some tips on introducing them they are both about the same age but the size difference is really off.

Please help.

 

[triplepurpose]

It's hard to say with certainty because every chicken is different. But generally introducing one new chicken to an established flock is almost always a bad idea, more so when that chicken is smaller than the rest. Most likely he will be bullied severely....

No matter how "friendly" or "sweet" the other birds may be, a new bird and a smaller bird and a gentler bird will be low man on the totem pole X3... Eating him could be kinder...but the proof is in the pudding, as it were. Maybe your case will be the exception that proves the rule...
Good luck!

 

[maybejoey]

he is bigger than all of them except for the rooster. Plus I do not eat them they are pets. They give me eggs and new chicks and an alarm clock in the morning, I believe that once they give me that stuff I should repay them by giving them a home until they pass away of disease or old age.

 

[WalkerH]

Yeah I'm in the same situation. Although the roo I have is bigger then the existing roo. I don't know if I will introduce him to the flock or give him away. I hate to do it cause he is quite pretty.

 

[maybejoey]

I might have to give him away too. He is the nicest bird i ever met. If i am going to get rid of him i would like to find someone on BYC that WONT eat him.

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

Your not in FL are you

 

[WalkerH]

Yeah, it to me isn't worth one of them getting hurt. Although neither have spurs at the moment cause they are both about the same age.