New rooster to hens

[sloanbychoice]

So, I thought I’d update...
Attached to our coop is an outside run that is completely fenced, and later we had made it bigger, but left the existing fence so that there are essentially two runs separated by a gate.
Yesterday afternoon, I decided to get my ladies out into the furthest run and lock them out. Then I let Boss (the new rooster) out into the coop and first run.
He had a ball... thought he was big stuff, stretched his wings and went all around the run scratching it up and foraging.
The ladies immediately set out to attack him through the fence.
He did good at first, tried to show his own and stand his ground, but ultimately my barred rocks were relentless and got a hold of his comb. He walked away like nothing and proceeded to scratch and find scraps.
Over the course of an hour, they had four or five good squabbles through the fence.
We’re going to keep doing this for a couple weeks.
I truly hope this works out, as I am already quite fond of Boss.
Side note.... Boss would occasionally dance sideways at the fence toward a hen, which would inevitably lead to a squabble.
What is this sideways show?
Is he being dominant?
Or is he flirting?

 

[TwoCrows]

So, I thought I’d update...
Attached to our coop is an outside run that is completely fenced, and later we had made it bigger, but left the existing fence so that there are essentially two runs separated by a gate.
Yesterday afternoon, I decided to get my ladies out into the furthest run and lock them out. Then I let Boss (the new rooster) out into the coop and first run.
He had a ball... thought he was big stuff, stretched his wings and went all around the run scratching it up and foraging.
The ladies immediately set out to attack him through the fence.
He did good at first, tried to show his own and stand his ground, but ultimately my barred rocks were relentless and got a hold of his comb. He walked away like nothing and proceeded to scratch and find scraps.
Over the course of an hour, they had four or five good squabbles through the fence.
We’re going to keep doing this for a couple weeks.
I truly hope this works out, as I am already quite fond of Boss.
Side note.... Boss would occasionally dance sideways at the fence toward a hen, which would inevitably lead to a squabble.
What is this sideways show?
Is he being dominant?
Or is he flirting?

It can take months to integrate birds into a flock. Give this time, go slow and see how it goes. Some roosters work out and some don't. If after a while and he is clearly not meant to be in the flock, you may need to rehome him. However he may work in just fine! But always keep an eye on things until he and the others can be trusted. Don't be quick yet to judge, let winter turn into summer before making a call. Good luck!

 

[DobieLover]

So, I thought I’d update...
Attached to our coop is an outside run that is completely fenced, and later we had made it bigger, but left the existing fence so that there are essentially two runs separated by a gate.
Yesterday afternoon, I decided to get my ladies out into the furthest run and lock them out. Then I let Boss (the new rooster) out into the coop and first run.
He had a ball... thought he was big stuff, stretched his wings and went all around the run scratching it up and foraging.
The ladies immediately set out to attack him through the fence.
He did good at first, tried to show his own and stand his ground, but ultimately my barred rocks were relentless and got a hold of his comb. He walked away like nothing and proceeded to scratch and find scraps.
Over the course of an hour, they had four or five good squabbles through the fence.
We’re going to keep doing this for a couple weeks.
I truly hope this works out, as I am already quite fond of Boss.
Side note.... Boss would occasionally dance sideways at the fence toward a hen, which would inevitably lead to a squabble.
What is this sideways show?
Is he being dominant?
Or is he flirting?

The sideways move, usually with a wing drop, is him trying to herd the girls.
Are any of your girls NOT being overly aggressive with him? If so, put her in with him and see how it goes.

 

[sloanbychoice]

The sideways move, usually with a wing drop, is him trying to herd the girls.
Are any of your girls NOT being overly aggressive with him? If so, put her in with him and see how it goes.

About half of them don’t seem to mind him at all or are curious about him. I have a couple who seem (at least to me) to be fond of him and ready for his attentions. The main issue is with my three barred rocks and a couple others.

 

[DobieLover]

About half of them don’t seem to mind him at all or are curious about him. I have a couple who seem (at least to me) to be fond of him and ready for his attentions. The main issue is with my three barred rocks and a couple others.

Put the ones that are curious about him and the ones that seem fond of him with him and leave the more aggressive ones separate. See how he does with the ladies who don't want to kill him.

 

[ValerieJ]

You might have to make several attempts at integration, and I would give some time in between tries. I'm going through the same thing right now. The wing down stamping, IMHO, is a mating dance. My previous rooster did that right before he mated one of his hens. If your cockerel is doing that, and the hens are wanting to fight with him, I think it indicates he's not quite old enough so they are putting him in his place. There will come a time when the hens want the rooster, but they have to respect him first. They aren't going to respect some little whipper-snapper.

I've tried to integrate a rooster into my flock once before, and I've had two cockerels who were born into the flock. Because I couldn't get past all the aggression, either by the hens/pullets or the rooster/cockerels, I ended up culling the cockerels/rooster, to bring peace back to the flock.

This time I'm giving it a year, even if I have to keep them separate the whole time. If I don't have a cohesive flock by the end of summer, I'll do something to get rid of one or both cockerels, who will then be roosters, but I'm hoping my commitment level will make a difference for them. I wont put up with human aggression, but I have let them know from the beginning that's not okay, and they are honoring it.

That's all I can say to help, and I hope it does. I'm a novice too, so just sharing what I've figured out so far. I'll be watching your progress with great interest.

 

[sloanbychoice]

You might have to make several attempts at integration, and I would give some time in between tries. I'm going through the same thing right now. The wing down stamping, IMHO, is a mating dance. My previous rooster did that right before he mated one of his hens. If your cockerel is doing that, and the hens are wanting to fight with him, I think it indicates he's not quite old enough so they are putting him in his place. There will come a time when the hens want the rooster, but they have to respect him first. They aren't going to respect some little whipper-snapper.

I've tried to integrate a rooster into my flock once before, and I've had two cockerels who were born into the flock. Because I couldn't get past all the aggression, either by the hens/pullets or the rooster/cockerels, I ended up culling the cockerels/rooster, to bring peace back to the flock.

This time I'm giving it a year, even if I have to keep them separate the whole time. If I don't have a cohesive flock by the end of summer, I'll do something to get rid of one or both cockerels, who will then be roosters, but I'm hoping my commitment level will make a difference for them. I wont put up with human aggression, but I have let them know from the beginning that's not okay, and they are honoring it.

That's all I can say to help, and I hope it does. I'm a novice too, so just sharing what I've figured out so far. I'll be watching your progress with great interest.

Thank you!!
I, too, have decided to just commit to this. Even if it takes months.
I am determined that these girls will love him one day. Lol.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thank you!!
I, too, have decided to just commit to this. Even if it takes months.
I am determined that these girls will love him one day. Lol.

I'm convinced they will. We just have to keep trying, and keeping everyone safe when we need to.

 

[Chullicken]

 

[ValerieJ]

Oh, still my beating heart!