New rooster

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

Hi everyone! I just got a new cockerel and was wondering what to do to help him adjust and take over the dominant role of the flock well. He is five months old and is a beautiful white and black Easter Egger. I have four older hens and got ten chicks this year, which are about four months now. So far, he has gotten a lot of crap from the older hens, and hasn’t fought back. Then again it hasn’t been that long, only about a day, so he will probably adjust well on his own time. Haha I think I’m over reacting but… Any tips? I love raising and caring for hens, but have never had the courage to try a rooster! Anything that might help would be appreciated!!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Hi everyone! I just got a new rooster and was wondering what to do to help him adjust and take over the dominant role of the flock well. He is five months old and is a beautiful white and black Easter Egger. I have four older hens and got ten chicks this year, which are about four months now. So far, he has gotten a lot of crap from the older hens, and hasn’t fought back. Then again it hasn’t been that long, only about a day, so he will probably adjust well on his own time. Haha I think I’m over reacting but… Any tips? I love raising and caring for hens, but have never had the courage to try a rooster! Anything that might help would be appreciated!!

He is still a young cockerel. He may not even be ready to breed. Just let them do their thing, there's really nothing else you can do. They will work everything out themselves.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

In my opinion you’re setting him up for failure just throwing him in there with them. Integrating one chicken is always difficult but if you don’t do a week of see-no-touch introduction he is going to get picked on mercilessly.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi everyone! I just got a new rooster and was wondering what to do to help him adjust and take over the dominant role of the flock well. He is five months old and is a beautiful white and black Easter Egger. I have four older hens and got ten chicks this year, which are about four months now. So far, he has gotten a lot of crap from the older hens, and hasn’t fought back. Then again it hasn’t been that long, only about a day, so he will probably adjust well on his own time. Haha I think I’m over reacting but… Any tips? I love raising and caring for hens, but have never had the courage to try a rooster! Anything that might help would be appreciated!!

Welcome to BYC!

I’d start by reading the link below. In the meantime, let your cockerel (he’s not a rooster yet) be a chicken. Not for cuddling; not like a puppy etc. Respect him and demand that he respect you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I meant to add that one thing that @Shadrach often says: a good rooster is loved by his hens.

That means that your cockerel’s job now is to learn how to behave toward the girls. His adolescence may be rocky! When the hormones kick in, they can be real jerks to everyone.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

…He is five months old and is a beautiful white and black Easter Egger. I have four older hens and got ten chicks this year, which are about four months now. So far, he has gotten a lot of crap from the older hens, and hasn’t fought back.

This is exactly what you want to see. Let the aunties train him in how to behave.

If/when he grows to be a good rooster (=not a jerk), they’ll let him take over.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I meant to add that one thing that @Shadrach often says: a good rooster is loved by his hens.

That means that your cockerel’s job now is to learn how to behave toward the girls. His adolescence may be rocky! When the hormones kick in, they can be real jerks to everyone.

This is exactly what you want to see. Let the aunties train him in how to behave.

If/when he grows to be a good rooster (=not a jerk), they’ll let him take over.

Well said....

 

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

In my opinion you’re setting him up for failure just throwing him in there with them. Integrating one chicken is always difficult but if you don’t do a week of see-no-touch introduction he is going to get picked on mercilessly.

How would you suggest I do that? Like I said, this is a completely new area for me! Do you have any tips on how I would do a see no touch environment?

 

[Pigeony]

How would you suggest I do that? Like I said, this is a completely new area for me! Do you have any tips on how I would do a see no touch environment?

If it were a hen, I would agree. But I think with a new cockerel, it's actually better to just let him get picked on at first, provided they don't truly hurt him past scratches here and there. You want him to grow up into a rooster that respects his ladies and behaves himself, and roosters learn to be humble by essentially being hazed in their youth. If there's an adult rooster in a flock, he's usually quite tough on a new cockerel until he learns manners and respects the pecking order. Older hens are much the same, they are harsh when the cockerel is younger and weaker, and later if he grows up into an attractive rooster who tidbits for them and follows the rules of chicken society, they'll accept him as their rooster. The real problem is when there's no older hens, just same-age pullets. Because then, the pullets are often too timid to correct his behavior and he often will grow up to be a menace. May not be everybody's advice, but with only 4 older hens to push him around, I'm sure he can handle himself well enough at 5 months to endure his introduction to chicken society and eventually settle into his role as flock rooster.