Once bitten twice shy... adopting a roo?

[JulieBeth07]

Well... we've been down this road before I'd really like to have a roo in my flock. I'm new to all of this and would love some advice. We got lucky and have all hens. Our first flock we have 13 they're 7 months old and we've got a second flock of 13 coming up that are starting to lay they're about 5 months old. We also have a flock of 6 ducks.

We tried to add a roo to our flock a couple months back but it didn't work out. A friend of ours got a roo in their flock and weren't supposed to have him in their neighborhood. So we took him in. My girls are livestock, but they're also my pets. He was a blue laced red wyandotte, and oh so handsome. I tried everything and wanted him to work out so badly. He was in a crate in with my hens in their enclosed run.. well when I would let the girls out to free range for the day, Id let Mr Bleu out, but only supervised. He wouldn't leave my poor ducks alone.. He also seemed to side step me a bit when I'd walk in the run. So he went back.

Well... a friend of a friend now has too many roos. I guess he's young (not sure of the age) and can't seem to find a place in his flock, she has multiple roos. He's an olive egger. Is this something that would work if he was the only roo? What are particular behaviors I should ask about? Apparently he's been good with people.


Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[lomine]

You'll never really know until you try. His behavior could completely change if moved to a new flock and being the only male. Behavior can also change as they age. Many say you don't really know how they'll be until they are over 2 years.

I'd only suggest trying a male that is significantly younger or much older and calmer than your girls. Your girls (technically called pullets until 1 year) are still young. A male their age (called a cockerel) would be more likely to be overly aggressive with mating. If the cockerel is much younger and smaller the girls can chase him off easier and teach him manners. An older rooster will assert his dominance from the start but shouldn't be too rough on the girls (because he knowns what he's doing and his hormones aren't raging).

Another option is to wait to see if one of your girls goes broody and give her fertile eggs. I find that the best males are raised by broody hens in a multi generational flock. This also gives you time to learn more about your chickens. Plus watching a broody with her chicks is super fun.

I'd also suggest you look into quarantine procedures. Bringing in new birds can have risks.

 

[Xouie]

Seems like this would be a great situation for this little guy. I vote for giving him a try — starting him out in “look but can’t touch” mode with the ladies for a while, then bringing them together. There are tons of posts giving specifics on how to integrate if you’re not sure (though it looks like you do know).
Since this guy is young hopefully he doesn’t bring a lot of bad habits and baggage with him.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Yeah really try a roo. If he's not near the ducks he should be fine.

 

[MarkJr]

I just dump a cockerel in among them and let them figure it out. He either gives what he gets or runs to the outskirts and slowly works his way in.
I’ve never had worry for a pullets health this way.

This is assuming free range and/or plenty of room to get away from each other.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I've had the best results with a young rooster that's grown up in an older flock with an older, established rooster as well as mature hens. There is no better way, IMO, for a cockerel to learn good manners than from these older birds. My current cockerel is about 8 mo old and is a perfect gentleman, both with the hens and with humans. The flock master did not tolerate him abusing the hens, and a few times of him getting chased and flogged taught him a lot of respect and humility.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

The sidestep thing that you mentioned is a no-no. That's him challenging you. I agree with @MarkJr , throw him in there, and don't take him out unless there is blood.

 

[MarkJr]

Not quite wrapping my head around sidestep motion

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Not quite wrapping my head around sidestep motion

Wing dancing? When a rooster does it to another rooster, it's a challenge. You don't want your roosters doing it to you.

 

[MarkJr]

Wing dancing? When a rooster does it to another rooster, it's a challenge. You don't want your roosters doing it to you.

I’ve never had one wing dance or anything of the sort.

Last ones have just decided to flog me when I am not paying attention or am bent over gathering eggs.

They don’t survive much longer after those mistakes.