Is it possible to introduce a rooster to a rooster-only flock?

[paxfarms]

I have a rooster-only flock that are kept completely separate from the other birds. Is it possible to add another rooster (or roosters) to that pen?

I've successfully added hens/pullets to the layers pen by putting the new girl in a dog kennel inside the coop or run for a few days. Would I use the same process for adding males to a male-only pen?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yes and yes. @Shadrach can probably tell you more.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm not the best person to ask to be honest. While I've kept cockerels together for short periods of time; I've not kept rooster flocks as such.

 

[Elsveta641]

I have a rooster-only flock that are kept completely separate from the other birds. Is it possible to add another rooster (or roosters) to that pen

I've successfully added hens/pullets to the layers pen by putting the new girl in a dog kennel inside the coop or run for a few days. Would I use the same process for adding males to a male-only pen?

We used to have a group of bachelors who roamed about the acreage like a little street gang. The alpha roo and his sidekick kept them from bothering the flock and they rarely attempted to. They'd spend the day foraging and sparring and sometimes groomed eachother. When we added another we'd just toss him out there. Usually hed try his luck with the flock and get his butt handed to him then join the gang. The gang would "jump him in", beating him silly before letting him join them. But they always did allow the new ones to join. Just expect some fighting for a day or two. Most of the time here the fight would go off and on for a half hour or 45 minutes then all was peaceful, but sometimes it took a few days if the new guy was very determined to be the new leader.

 

[Mrs. K]

When considering the above post, remember there is a HUGE difference in free roaming verse all in a confined run together.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@RoostersAreAwesome

 

[MROO]

Space is the key. Hiding spots help, just make sure there is a second way out so the newbie doesn't get trapped. I've found that the best way to introduce boys to my bachelor flock is to kennel the new guy nearby for a couple of weeks - see-no-touch, but with a good ten feet between them. Once they start getting bored with the echo-wars (constant crowing back and forth) I let them free-range together for an hour or so each night. After a week of that, I put them together for roosting ... making sure there's a separate perch where the new fellow can sit nearby, but not crowd the main bunch. There's usually a little scrabbling for a bit, but eventually they all settle into the new order without major bloodshed.
It takes a while, but the peace at the end is worth the extra time and effort. I've only had it fail once, and that was with Herman, our very spoiled House Rooster. I guess it's hard to work your way into a chicken flock when you don't realize you're a chicken. Herman now has his own little coop and run, complete with his own pair of ladies. If we ever let them hatch, we ought to get some interesting youngsters ... how does a Blue Splash Silkie x BIG Black Jersey Giant sound?

 

[Elsveta641]

When considering the above post, remember there is a HUGE difference in free roaming verse all in a confined run together.

In the winter the animals mentioned above all shared a barn space about 15x40. Also at night they are shut up in that space for the night. It still worked fine, the little rooster gang was expected by the others to stay perched on a long board toward the back. And that's where they stayed all winter unless they were eating or drinking

 

[Eggscaping]

Space is the key. Hiding spots help, just make sure there is a second way out so the newbie doesn't get trapped. I've found that the best way to introduce boys to my bachelor flock is to kennel the new guy nearby for a couple of weeks - see-no-touch, but with a good ten feet between them. Once they start getting bored with the echo-wars (constant crowing back and forth) I let them free-range together for an hour or so each night. After a week of that, I put them together for roosting ... making sure there's a separate perch where the new fellow can sit nearby, but not crowd the main bunch. There's usually a little scrabbling for a bit, but eventually they all settle into the new order without major bloodshed.
It takes a while, but the peace at the end is worth the extra time and effort. I've only had it fail once, and that was with Herman, our very spoiled House Rooster. I guess it's hard to work your way into a chicken flock when you don't realize you're a chicken. Herman now has his own little coop and run, complete with his own pair of ladies. If we ever let them hatch, we ought to get some interesting youngsters ... how does a Blue Splash Silkie x BIG Black Jersey Giant sound?

House rooster! I'm intrigued! Does he wear chicken diapers? Is he your alarm clock each day? Is there a lot of 'personal debris' (aka feathers, dander, etc) from him? How does he spend his time?

 

[MROO]

House rooster! I'm intrigued! Does he wear chicken diapers? Is he your alarm clock each day? Is there a lot of 'personal debris' (aka feathers, dander, etc) from him? How does he spend his time?

Herman will, reluctantly, wear a diaper, but he's pretty easy to predict, so we mostly just watch him. He never "deposits" while being petted, though, so he's generally safe in a lap. His "job" is socializing chicks, a responsibility he seems to take very seriously. With this last batch, a pair of Kindergarten Dropouts, he's spending more and more time outside, these days. It seems that our Herman has finally discovered "girls," as he is quite enamored of his two lady-pullet friends. We may make a real chicken out of him, yet.
You can read Herman's back story here on BYC. He's quite a neat little character ...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/is-there-a-rooster-in-the-house.74089/