Mean Chickens!! - Introducing New Roosters to the Hens.

[Morrigan]

I'm not too sure if this thread is still live but its worth a shot! I have 3 Dutch bantam hens, my roo died a few months back and my breeder hasn't had an unrelated one available until now. I'm away to pick him (and possibly a new hen) up tomorrow. I have had terrible trouble with my lot regards introducing new hens in the past. My girls have been brought up together from 'chickhood' and when one went broody last year i took her out the run and into her own pen along side the others to hatch and raise her chicks, however when i reintroduced my hen and her chicks (who were the same size as the others) into the flock they got beaten up for weeks! So much so i had to give the chicks to a friend my little hen wasn't accepted for ages after. Any tips to help this go smoother would be much appreciated!

Cheers in advance,
Rachel

I introduced a 6 mo old rooster into a flock of 12 hens of the same age who had been together as chicks. For the first two weeks I kept him in a fenced off area of the chicken yard where he could see the hens and vice versa but they couldn't hurt each other. After about a week I began opening up the barricade and letting them mingle for awhile and then separating them him out when I thought the rooster had had enough. At night, I put him in a pet carrier inside the coop.

Their first interactions were tough to watch. They all took turns chasing, pulling feathers, and pecking him. The poor little guy was terrified of them. When at two weeks I finally released him to the flock full time, I would find him hiding in the nest boxes. But after a few days, he began to find his footing. Now 4 months later he is #3 on the pecking order and making a bid for #2. He's shaping up to be a good rooster -- attentive and protective.

I was lucky in that my hens are fairly mellow and no blood was ever shed. If they had really torn into him, I would have continued the separation until the rooster was larger.

 

[Rach123]

I introduced a 6 mo old rooster into a flock of 12 hens of the same age who had been together as chicks. For the first two weeks I kept him in a fenced off area of the chicken yard where he could see the hens and vice versa but they couldn't hurt each other. After about a week I began opening up the barricade and letting them mingle for awhile and then separating them him out when I thought the rooster had had enough. At night, I put him in a pet carrier inside the coop.

Their first interactions were tough to watch. They all took turns chasing, pulling feathers, and pecking him. The poor little guy was terrified of them. When at two weeks I finally released him to the flock full time, I would find him hiding in the nest boxes. But after a few days, he began to find his footing. Now 4 months later he is #3 on the pecking order and making a bid for #2. He's shaping up to be a good rooster -- attentive and protective.

I was lucky in that my hens are fairly mellow and no blood was ever shed. If they had really torn into him, I would have continued the separation until the rooster was larger.

Thanks Morrigan I went and picked up my new baby roo and a pullet today and, as suggested, have fenced off a small area of the run to put the pair in. The other hens really haven't seemed fussed all day so i let the two out for a supervised wonder, bad idea, there was a chicken brawl! I didn't see it calming so i put them back in the mini run. Do you think they would be okay to put in with the rest of the flock in the house over night and remove them again in the morning? I really don't have any where else to put them

 

[Morrigan]

If possible, I would get up at the crack of dawn, to get the new one's into your temporary pen before the others get active and fiesty. I've heard that some chickens are fine if they all "wake up together" and maybe that will be the case with you. But, in my flock, they are most active and most likely to pick on someone in the small confines of the coop first thing in the morning. If you could segregate an area off in the coop to roost at night where they can't be harassed, I would go for that.

 

[Rach123]

If possible, I would get up at the crack of dawn, to get the new one's into your temporary pen before the others get active and fiesty. I've heard that some chickens are fine if they all "wake up together" and maybe that will be the case with you. But, in my flock, they are most active and most likely to pick on someone in the small confines of the coop first thing in the morning. If you could segregate an area off in the coop to roost at night where they can't be harassed, I would go for that.

Yeah thanks again unfortunately my lot did pick on the pair despite me getting up early the cockerel was first out in the morning and i found the wee hen behind the nesting boxes, poor souls So since then they have been put in a cat carrier in the coop at nights and in a fenced off area in the run during the day.

 

[eryan7]

Not sure if anyone is sill following this thread since it has been a little while, but I have an 9 week old BR rooster that I am re-homing. The family that he is moving to consists of 4 hens (their rooster die of old age about a year ago and the are looking to get another). We are concerned whether the fact that their hens are a bit older and full grown will pose a problem of him being accepted. He has been raised with 6 ladies up to this point from 1 day old. Any thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

I would have him in a dog crate or fenced off area in the coop, and if they free range, let him out in a couple of weeks where he has room to get away from the hens. If possible, can he come with one or two buddies? It's always hard to introduce only one bird, and he's still a baby. Mary

 

[eryan7]

Thanks for the tip! I am going to ask the new owners if they can give him a place to get away from the ladies. I only have 6 other ladies myself so I really don't want to get rid of anyone, but I do hate to separate him from his current flock. they all get along so well. Always cuddling! Just can get my husband to be OK with him crowing, since he heard that roosters can tend to crow at 2:30 or 3AM. Not sure the neighbors would be happy with it either! He hasn't started crowing so we really haven't experienced it yet but we suspect it will be very loud.

 

[funny farmer]

I just put my new 3 month old Welsummer rooster in with my 9 girls 4 days ago. At first they pecked at him relentlessly and gave him a hard time, but little by little I think they're warming up to him. He even came out into the chicken yard today to sit in the sun. He had been hiding in the coop. Now they just occasionally peck at him or chase him off if he gets to close. I figure in a couple more months when he gets a little older they'll start appreciating him a little more.

 

[Rach123]

*update on introducing my new little roo and pullet into a mean flock of hens*
I've had my new dutch roo and pullet for around 2 months now and the first wee while was terrible they both got picked on pretty bad when i let them out as they couldn't be separated forever, however due to lack of space i didn't have time to quarantine the new birds like i normally do so they ended up giving everyone red mite

-most annoying. So i went and purchased a new run (albeit a much smaller one than what they're used to) and chucked the lot of them in it. I was actually surprised how well it went, they picked on the pullet at first but they learned to tolerate her. My poor pullet was terrified of one bird in particular and would panic every time she came near but learned to keep her distance during the day and wait until the rest of the flock went to bed before going and getting her fill (and a pet from me). A load of disinfectant and lots of diatom earth (miracle stuff btw) and their coop was red mite free and they were all shipped back into it. And ever since then they have been fine, my little pullet is still wary of them but no squabbles since the move

. I found that putting lots of distractions like hanging foods and treats and providing lots of places to hide really helped as my pullet could get away from the rest of the flock if she wanted to. A round plant pot was particularly helpful as it meant that they couldn't corner her.

 

[linda o]

I have 4 orpington buffs (12 wks old) and 6 others all 12 weeks. Each evening when they try to roost, one of the buffs pecks all of the chickens relentlessly. Twice I have taken it out and put it in the run for the night so the others could rest. Any suggestions, or is this normal?