New rooster to hens

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Good luck with integrating your cockerel. All of your chickens are in their first year, so still pullets and a cockerel. It may be a question of immaturity.

Several days went by with very little attention toward either side.

Also, this. It might take a couple weeks of look don't touch intro before integration.

But honestly, integration can be very difficult. When I do it, I sit out and watch that no one gets hurt. Sometimes it goes very smoothly, especially when it's pullets and hens. But integrating a cockerel brings with it a huge change in the flock.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

If he is not fully mature yet, they will gang up on him and could potentially do him harm. I always keep cockerels away from hens until they are 6+ months old. Hens just don't except the boys until they are men. So if you have the space, you might keep him separated for now.

Welcome to our community!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

It’s a pretty big area. That’s a good idea. Thank you!!!

Yes, nice and big! Just a nice little spot for him to hide might help...we made little bench type things for ours, but a pallet would do

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I would keep him confined inside the coop barn a while longer. Add lots more "stuff" in there so there are plenty of places for him to get away and hide. Then allow out only 2 or 3 of your more docile girls and keep the rest confined. Then let him out and see how he does with just a few.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I would divide your coop area. Allow him to become comfortable in his portion, and then add hens to his side 1 or 2 at a time over a period of days.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I would keep him confined inside the coop barn a while longer. Add lots more "stuff" in there so there are plenty of places for him to get away and hide. Then allow out only 2 or 3 of your more docile girls and keep the rest confined. Then let him out and see how he does with just a few.

That's really good advice! Thanks! I need it too right now!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at Backyard Chickens. Hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy

You have already been given great advice, so I'll just say, "Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Thanks for joining our community!