new rooster + OLD hens?

[warmth]

I'm currently raising an individual flock of 6 buff Orpingtons, one of which is a rooster. I have 2 old (7-8 yrs) Black Star/Sexlink(?) hens and I'm wondering if he'd harass them? As in, attempt to mate them and possibly injure/even kill them. They're currently in good health if that's something important to know. These two hens are a part of a flock with 6 younger (~1 yr) hens so the roo would have 12 hens available IF we were to end up mixing flocks.

Mostly wanting to know so I can know if having a fence to separate is necessary or not.

If it matters, the two old hens are at the top of the pecking order at the moment!

 

[Mrs. K]

If they are at the top of the pecking order, I would not worry about it. Just to be clear, you are wanting to mix 6 birds, with 5 birds and a rooster.

It might give just a bit more advantage if you introduced the BO to old gals group, into the old gals coop. Home turf advantage.

Good integration depends on space, and hideouts, and multiple feed bowls. It is also helpful, to lock a original group out, so that a new group can explore a new coop/run without being chased.

What are the sizes of the coops/runs, and can you free range them for several days together allowing them to go back to their own choice of coop? Then after several days, close up the coop you no longer want them to use.

But with a nearly even number of birds in each group- I would expect this to go well. In my experience hens like a rooster. But I am assuming that you have enough room where you want them to be.

Good luck.

 

[warmth]

If they are at the top of the pecking order, I would not worry about it. Just to be clear, you are wanting to mix 6 birds, with 5 birds and a rooster.

It might give just a bit more advantage if you introduced the BO to old gals group, into the old gals coop. Home turf advantage.

Good integration depends on space, and hideouts, and multiple feed bowls. It is also helpful, to lock a original group out, so that a new group can explore a new coop/run without being chased.

What are the sizes of the coops/runs, and can you free range them for several days together allowing them to go back to their own choice of coop? Then after several days, close up the coop you no longer want them to use.

But with a nearly even number of birds in each group- I would expect this to go well. In my experience hens like a rooster. But I am assuming that you have enough room where you want them to be.

Good luck.

"Just to be clear, you are wanting to mix 6 birds, with 5 birds and a rooster."
not quite! 5 hens, 1 rooster (BOs) being added to a flock of 8 hens- 6 young, 2 old. a total of 14 chickens.

"What are the sizes of the coops/runs, and can you free range them for several days together allowing them to go back to their own choice of coop?"
the entire fenced in area (so the run, basically) is about 40-50' long and about 20-30' wide. coop 1 (with the old hens) is I'd say about 7'Lx6'W and coop 2 (for the BOs) is about 8'Lx7'W and yes, that could easily be done!

 

[Mrs. K]

Then that is what I would do, I would let them mingle and go back to their choice, at first I would expect it to be the coop they have been in, but as they start getting comfortable, I would expect some of the birds to go to a different coop. After a day or two of that, I would shut the coop, I don't want them to use. Check near dark, to make sure everyone makes it in. But I be the will.

Mrs K