New rooster!

[crazychickenchick01]

Hello everyone, my family just got a new rooster recently. We were able to introduce him to our mature hens and it went great. He has only been in the coop with them for 1 night now. My question is...since we let our chickens free roam, can he free roam with them or should we keep him in the coop for sometime before also letting him free roam? My husband and I have had chickens before but we are still novice in my opinion. Thank you for any answers and advice!

 

[sourland]

There's no hard and fast answer. He may stay with your hens, but I would give him at least a week to feel at home before free ranging him.

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't free range myself, but I've always heard the advice to keep chickens in their coop and run for at least a week to home them to that area before letting them out.

 

[triciayoung]

I agree with @3KillerBs and @sourland

 

[Mrs. K]

I humbly disagree. Unless he is not mature and they are trying to kill him. He will follow the ladies right in the coop, and then later tell them, what a wonderful place he found for his girls!

A year or so, I had kept a rooster for a month in quarantine... one afternoon, I let him out to free range while the girls were free ranging, and that night he was in their coop.

Mrs K

 

[triciayoung]

I humbly disagree. Unless he is not mature and they are trying to kill him. He will follow the ladies right in the coop, and then later tell them, what a wonderful place he found for his girls!

A year or so, I had kept a rooster for a month in quarantine... one afternoon, I let him out to free range while the girls were free ranging, and that night he was in their coop.

Mrs K

Good point.

 

[Folly's place]

He's unlikely to lead them astray! Consider letting them out later in the day, so there's motivation to go into the coop sooner. And do your girls come for treats when called? that's good too for the first few days.
Mary