is it okay to put my rooster with another flock of chickens?

[pollocutie]

we have two roosters, and three hens, and i believe this ratio isn't good for my hens. they are all three months, and one of our roosters has already began to crow. a family friend wanted to trade, as they give us one hen and we give them the rooster, because they wanted a rooster to protect their hens. is this okay, or will my rooster be bullied, or something like that? thanks so much!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I don't see much of a problem with it.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

It's a really good idea.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Sounds great!! They are young enough that if there is any fighting it won’t be with much bloodshed, there may be some squabbles before the hens accept him though.

 

[bobbi-j]

Your cockerel should be just fine. There can be a few squabbles when integrating, but they work things out. Sounds like a good trade.

 

[aart]

because they wanted a rooster to protect their hens. is this okay, or will my rooster be bullied, or something like that?

Are their 'hens' actually hens(over a year old)?
Adding a single bird of any age or gender to any flock can be tricky.
Giving a male and getting female in return is almost always a good trade.

FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Ridgerunner]

He's a cockerel, not a rooster. If your friend's hens are older, he will be low in the pecking order until he matures enough to start acting more mature. I've had one do that at 5 months, one didn't until 11 months. Most of mine manage around 7 months. Maturity makes a big difference in how they behave and onteract.

Will he be bullied? Maybe. It depends on the personality of him and the hens, how much room your friends have, and what integration techniques they use. Sometimes this is seamless, really smooth. Sometimes it gets violent. This kind of stuff doesn't come with guarantees. Once you make the trade, why is this your problem?

With the numbers in your flock I would consider this an excellent trade. I think you are staring at some really rough times in your flock over the next few months if you don't do something. Some people have two boys and three girls and it works but the odds are strong against you.

You will be bringing a single chicken into your flock of 3-month-olds. You have your own integration to worry about. That's what you should be thinking about. How old is she, how much room do you have, what do your facilities look like? Sometimes this goes really smoothly, sometimes this gets violent. If we know what you have to work with we may be able to help you with that.