Replacement Rooster

[Kurczaklover]

We lost our rooster in a raccon attack months ago and want to replace him. We have 13 ladies of assorted breeds that are about 8 months old. My best friend has offered her 3rd rooster who is a 14 month old Barred Rock. Not concerned about quarantine, as I know where he has been, but wondering about integration. She's bringing him up tomorrow morning, I hate the idea of putting him in a cage for the usual get to know you session. Can I just turn him loose to free range with the girls and get acquainted, or is the cage a must?

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

If they have a lot of room to run and places he can hide, then yes.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A rooster is a different animal than a single hen. He may face derision from some of the hens but should be able to hold his own. It would probably be OK to release him with the hens but I would keep him inside with some hens for a couple days before just turning him loose. He may not return to the coop because he doesn't know it or the routine.

Also, just because you know where he has been, quarantine shouldn't be avoided. He can still harbor a disease your birds haven't been exposed to. He could also have lice or mites.

 

[NatJ]

Can I just turn him loose to free range with the girls and get acquainted, or is the cage a must?

If you are not worried about quarantine, I would just put the rooster in the pen with the hens and watch what happens.

If you see any major problems, you can grab the rooster and put him in the cage for a while, but I'm guessing you will not have to do that.

At 14 months old, he is probably mature enough to fit in fairly easily (maybe after a showdown with the head hen.)

Ruffled feathers and flapping wings are not a problem. Combs bleed easily but heal fast, so small comb injuries that bleed profusely are also not a problem. A certain amount of running and chasing is not a problem either.

I would only intervene for more serious injuries, or if a single chicken is getting chased repeatedly (whether that is hens chasing the rooster or the rooster chasing a specific hen.)

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

If you are not worried about quarantine, I would just put the rooster in the pen with the hens and watch what happens.

If you see any major problems, you can grab the rooster and put him in the cage for a while, but I'm guessing you will not have to do that.

At 14 months old, he is probably mature enough to fit in fairly easily (maybe after a showdown with the head hen.)

Ruffled feathers and flapping wings are not a problem. Combs bleed easily but heal fast, so small comb injuries that bleed profusely are also not a problem. A certain amount of running and chasing is not a problem either.

I would only intervene for more serious injuries, or if a single chicken is getting chased repeatedly (whether that is hens chasing the rooster or the rooster chasing a specific hen.)

This^
I for some reason read 14 weeks, not months. If he is over a year then he should be fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

Last year, I just turned him out, and then let the girls out, mid afternoon. He followed the girls right back to the coop. It was really a non-issue.

And personally - that is my favorite kind of rooster to add, an extra that was so nice that he did not get culled. Good luck!

Mrs K

 

[HumbleAmerican]

I dump a mature cockerel or rooster into the horde and they always fit right in. I had one top hen that didn't like any newcomers, and she just fluffed up and kept her distance.

Now immature cockerels that are of whipping size? My horde has trained more than a few. They rarely cause damage, but a particular young cockerel took a few weeks before he could eat within sight of the others.

At 14 months old, I'm betting half squat on sight and the other half are running to his treat calls within 5 minutes.

 

[aart]

At 14 months old, I'm betting half squat on sight and the other half are running to his treat calls within 5 minutes.

Oh, that just smashed my funny bone!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

At 14 months old, I'm betting half squat on sight and the other half are running to his treat calls within 5 minutes.

Pessimist. With living animals anything is possible but I'd expect him to have fewer problems than that. As mentioned, I'd think the potential issue might be with the current dominant hen but that depends on how stubborn she is. I'd expect him to swagger in, wow them with his self-confidence and magnificence, and mate a couple to show the flock is his. Yeah, it should be that easy.

Can I just turn him loose to free range with the girls and get acquainted, or is the cage a must?

Personally I'd turn him loose to free range with them. I would not use a cage, but since anything can happen I's want to observe and have a plan ready in case something really unexpected happened. I think the odds are really high he will follow them into the coop to sleep when it gets dark but it might be a good idea to observe them at dark to see what is happening. If you have a run big enough that you could lock them all in there for the first day or so until he learns to sleep with them in the coop that would be insurance, a really cautious way to go. But I'd think just turning him loose with them would work well.

 

[Kurczaklover]

So here is the plan. Picking up the new roo after bedtime to hopefully stress him less. Going to put him to bed in the kennel and then let everyone out at the same time in the morning. I really was reluctant to use a cage at all, but we decided moving him at night would be easier for him. If I thought I could sneak him into the house without incident I would. This way they can have a short meet and greet before I let them out for the day.