Ok to add adult rooster with 6 week pullets, no hens?

[Bjb101]

I have 6 chicks that I'm pretty sure are all pullets. I need a rooster to protect the flock as I plan to free range, so I have been watching for an available one of the same breed. I've found one somewhat nearby after watching and looking for weeks, but it's definitely an adult. Would this be an issue or could it work out ok?
Picture of my chicks checking out their reflection...

 

[Mrs. K]

Wait or keep him separate until they are laying. An outstanding rooster would not bother them until they redden up, but a cockerel can make them miserable.

Roosters tend to be easy to get, maybe ask the people who have him, if they would wait.

Mrs K

 

[LRH97]

I agree with Mrs. K. Wait until at least the pullets are on the verge of lay, near adult size to avoid potential injury. I will also say that if the only reason you're in the market for a male is for flock protection, you're better off just limiting free ranging to times when you can supervise or at least be around to check up on the birds. Not saying don't get a nice rooster, but the amount of actual protection the majority of them offer isn't much to speak of.

 

[Altairsky]

A good rooster is great protection against hawks and hawks only.
Not much against anything else.
Also a rooster is a must if you want to raise your own chicks.
A good rooster should leave the young pullets alone, but you don't know if this one is good or not.
If you can keep him separated for a couple of months, take him. If you have no way to separate him in case things go downhill, I'd wait.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have always had good day time protection with a good rooster...thing is not all of them are good roosters and a lot of them are awful.

 

[The Moonshiner]

No way I'd keep an adult rooster with 6 week old pullets.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

You can always try it and watch him. I have two boys that were never rude with young pullets, even if they had no adult options.

 

[Bjb101]

Ok, I'll wait! I hope the rooster is still available when my girls are old enough. Welsummers aren't easy to come by and I really don't want more than 1 more chicken. Chicken math happened and it wasn't my fault! I ordered 5 female chicks and 1 male chick. Apparently, not enough males hatched that week as they sent 6 females. Welsummers are pretty easy to sex. I think a rooster to warn against hawks is a good thing as I do see hawks on our property and I would expect they will frequent it more soon enough.

Thank you for the wisdom from your experiences!

 

[Cheekychook12]

Ok, I'll wait! I hope the rooster is still available when my girls are old enough. Welsummers aren't easy to come by and I really don't want more than 1 more chicken. Chicken math happened and it wasn't my fault! I ordered 5 female chicks and 1 male chick. Apparently, not enough males hatched that week as they sent 6 females. Welsummers are pretty easy to sex. I think a rooster to warn against hawks is a good thing as I do see hawks on our property and I would expect they will frequent it more soon enough.

Thank you for the wisdom from your experiences!

You could always get him then keep him separate until your girls are older if you’re worried you won’t find another

 

[ChaosMom]

Ok, I'll wait! I hope the rooster is still available when my girls are old enough. Welsummers aren't easy to come by and I really don't want more than 1 more chicken. Chicken math happened and it wasn't my fault! I ordered 5 female chicks and 1 male chick. Apparently, not enough males hatched that week as they sent 6 females. Welsummers are pretty easy to sex. I think a rooster to warn against hawks is a good thing as I do see hawks on our property and I would expect they will frequent it more soon enough.

Thank you for the wisdom from your experiences!

You might be the only person in the world (this year, at least) who got all pullets while trying to get one roo! Good luck with your plans.