Hello! I'm looking for some advice on replacing my 2.5 year old, infertile rooster. He is aggressive toward one of my hens so that is also a factor in his dismissal. I have 8 older hens (anywhere from 1.5 to 5 or 6) and will be adding 3 young pullets in a month or two (as a trade for chicken babysitting). A friend has given me an extra 13 week old rooster and I would like to know how to phase him in? I would have liked to add the pullets and rooster all at once as it's been a while since I've added any new members to the flock, but it just didn't work out. Any advice is welcome! Thanks!
Do not put him with your adult rooster, it will not end well! I would double check that your rooster is truly infertile before you dispose of him. If you decide to remove your elder rooster, riptide should be easy to add a young rooster into the flock. Make sure you assert your dominance over him from a young age in order to make him less aggressive. Best of luck.
I always put any new chickes in a cage inside the coop so they can see each other for a week or two. Cockerels are aggravating until they're older. Hope this helps a little.
Personally, I like the idea of adding the pullets and rooster all at once. I would see if there was a way to do that. Especially if the pullets are a bit older than him. Then I would clean the coop, change the place of the feeding stations, make sure a couple of places where birds can get away from each other. Then let the flock out, put the newbies in for the day, so they can explore, find feed and water, and at dusk, let the old girls in. Older hens do a great deal of educating on younger roosters, can get rough. By making a lot of changes all at once, shakes things up, and I think they settle faster.
So you already have the new cockerel? Is he separated from the flock at this time? Have you gotten rid of the old cockbird yet? I would do that asap. How old will the pullets be....any way to move that acquisition up? What is your setup like, do you have lots of space and separate but adjacent enclosures? Pics would help. Chicken Juggling! You can do it, will just take some creativity.
Got the new Cockerel last night about 8, so everyone was already roosted. He is currently in a cage in our "supply side" of the chicken house, which is separated from the chickens by a wall of chicken wire. Everyone can see on another but no access. I really wanted to add the pullets with him but they're still way too little, maybe 4 or 5 weeks old? They would get beat up by the hens or eaten by my cat. I'm almost 100% positive my current rooster is infertile. I figure it doesn't matter right now but if I decide to expand my flock from within the flock I can't do it with him in charge. I had a broody hen (the one he has been attacking for a year now) set on eggs last June and hatched out 4 out of 11 or 12 eggs, the rest were yolks. I think his numbers have gotten worse since then. I'm just hesitant to cull him. It's hard. :/
I like the idea of changing other things at the same time! Thanks for that. I might need them to have access to the coop though or they'll lay their eggs who knows where. Here is a photo of our set up and the new guy.
Raggedy Andy made it to the freezer. I cleaned the chicken house and moved things around that I could. Also got my hanging waterer up and running again so there's 2 places to eat and drink. I moved the new rooster to the chicken side but still in his cage, and let the ladies out for the day. I figured they can check one another out when they go in to lay. When they roost tonight I'll let him out so they can roost together and become more familiar tomorrow on their first day out together. Thanks for all your help! You all have some great advice!!
