Introduction.... rooster

[jonezjollyfarm]

I'm wondering what the best way to introduce a grown rooster to newly laying pullets or hens. He has been cooped fence to fence with them for months now. We have allowed some highly monitored meet and greets a I think all went well. There was some pecking and jumping and squawking. No injuries (like when they were very young) and shockingly no mounting. I want to move him in for good once everyone is laying. I've heard you should sneak new chickens in after everyone goes to bed... does that apply to roosters. I understand there will be pecking and squawking at first but how long does it take for the pecking order to be adjusted and when if at all should I step in?

 

[Mrs. K]

adding an adult rooster is the easiest introduction that you can do. I would just put him in.

I am surprised that he has been willing to be in the pen beside them for months. All of my roosters were very interested in the girls, and being with the girls. How old is the rooster?

I have through the years adding (and subtracted) 7 roosters, I have never had to step in, and the hens were all in love before the next day.

Mrs K

 

[donrae]

I'm with Mrs K. Just put him in. Be prepared for him to mate pretty much every hen, and some of the hens will be resistant to the point of screaming or fighting. Usually the first day or so is the loudest, after that he's the boss and everyone settles down.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

He has been very patient. We had a long talk after he injured one of them when they were very young and he knows he'll get in there eventually. I think he is still to much bigger than they are. They are about 21-22 weeks so I'm thinking by week 30ish they will be just fine.

 

[NTBugtraq]

I'm wondering what the best way to introduce a grown rooster to newly laying pullets or hens. He has been cooped fence to fence with them for months now. We have allowed some highly monitored meet and greets a I think all went well. There was some pecking and jumping and squawking. No injuries (like when they were very young) and shockingly no mounting. I want to move him in for good once everyone is laying. I've heard you should sneak new chickens in after everyone goes to bed... does that apply to roosters. I understand there will be pecking and squawking at first but how long does it take for the pecking order to be adjusted and when if at all should I step in?

He's going to make way more noise than the hens are, that's for sure, I am surprised you haven't already noticed this. It does make me wonder just how old your rooster is...you say grown, do you know his age?

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Oh he makes plenty of noise, but the girl are definitely more vocal. He really only crows in the morning and if the neighbors rooster crows. I really don't know how old he is but he is gigantic in comparison to my 21-22 week old pullets.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Oh he makes plenty of noise, but the girl are definitely more vocal. He really only crows in the morning and if the neighbors rooster crows. I really don't know how old he is but he is gigantic in comparison to my 21-22 week old pullets.

Ok, this is just an opinion. My rooster in my main flock crows all day long. I believe he sees it as a way to keep the ladies in line. Its not as if he's being approached by outside threats, so that he does it makes me think its for the girls. If your guy isn't doing it all day, perhaps its because he's still separated.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

I think he may crow a little bit more when he gets in there but I don't think it's going to be an issue. My neighbors rooster crows a few times a day but nothing extreme. They make more predator noises than anything. We live in the country so there are all types of critters that make them nervous.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

So I put up a temporary fence and let the rooster and the girls out to play in the grass and everything has gone fine... well except he sneaks up on them and tires to mount them and that freaks them out. I'm sure with time that will go away. He has more or less walked around all day flapping his wings... is that normal? I for a brief moment though he was going to attack me. He was just looking at me and approaching me very slow like. I thought you son of a gun I'll make baked chicken out of you so fast if you attack me.