Need advice on moving roo to new flock

[lisahaschickens]

Hello,

When I ordered chicks this February from MM, I didn't want all 25, so I placed an ad on Craigslist and found a lady to split the order with me. They shipped us 27, she took 10, I took 17 and we have kept in touch.

Long story short, our Marans came straight-run and I ended up with 4 roos and she had 1. Well, her roo turned out to be a bad seed - attacking everyone - adults, kids, etc - when he drew blood, that was the last straw. He ended up in the frying pan.

However, her 9 girls now seem lost without a man and so she would like a new roo. I offered her one or two of mine since my 4 roos are too many for my 11 pullets (we lost 2 chicks the first day after the shipment arrived). She has decided to take one of my boys.

So, here is the question - what are the considerations for introducing my roo to her pullets?

details:

- all chickens invloved are 21.5 weeks old, just starting to lay.
- all came from same shipment from McMurray.
- this the first flock for each of us. Neither home or property has had chickens before. Both coops are new, built from scratch for these chickens.
- the roo she is taking is currently low-man in the pecking order here at my house, never been in charge or had his own ladies before.

So.... can she just take him over there and put him in the coop with her girls at night while they're all asleep? Would that invite trouble in the morning? Or, are they young enough that it should be fine? Please, share with me your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Mahonri]

Put him in at night, he'll get hen pecked in the morning.... as he grows, he'll work it out.

She'll want to watch the dynamics for a couple of days and may actually want to intervene if he gets the crap beat out of him. Best to do it ... perhaps on a Friday eve so she has the weekend to watch.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I do think she's home during the day, which is a plus.

Would the big problem be that he gets hen-pecked, and not the other way around? Could he potentially beat up one of the girls in the morning because he'd be confused about where he is?

 

[lisahaschickens]

Does anybody have any other thoughts?

Mahonri, I do appreciate your response, thank you

 

[stuckinthecity]

I don't think hed beat up the girls, since they're point of lay.
And honestly I would just throw him in there when she gets home(so she can watch for reactions)
There might be a fight b/n the head hen and this boy, but honestly I think they will welcome him into the flock.

I had dad gum mean game hens that still loved having a new rooster in their pen. I'd just throw him in and watch him work LOL

 

[Beekissed]

If you have a way to keep him separate but visual to your flock, I'd try that if you can. At least for a day or two. Might help you avoid all the drama.

I brought home a young roo and did this and the only problem he had when he joined the flock was with our older, but much smaller, roo. And only when he tried to mate a hen. Worked out great. He later went on to become the boss roo.