Rooster Flock Thread

[MickWithChicks]

No, I didn't find the exact article, but I did find a similar one that is nearly as good. Take a look at this one on "The Happy Chicken Coop."

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/aggressive-roosters/

This is pretty much how I handle my problem (aka teenage!) roos. So far, so good.

Was it the "Rooster Speak" post by @Beekissed? I had that one bookmarked too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-becomes-dinner.844018/page-4#post-12626931

@RoostersAreAwesome did you ever end up rehoming Domino? Your rooster flock look nice and content now.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I love the little white fellow! But then, I've always been a bit of a softie for bantams ...

That's Finny, he's an OEGB mix. He's probably my most docile rooster.

Was it the "Rooster Speak" post by @Beekissed? I had that one bookmarked too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-becomes-dinner.844018/page-4#post-12626931

@RoostersAreAwesome did you ever end up rehoming Domino? Your rooster flock look nice and content now.

Nope, I wasn't ever planning to. He did get updated to a bigger pen though.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Some recent pictures of the roo flock:
View attachment 1647423 View attachment 1647424 View attachment 1647425 View attachment 1647426 View attachment 1647427 View attachment 1647428

Where are you that you have such green grass this time of the year? The southern hemisphere?

Gorgeous bunch of boys!

 

[MROO]

Was it the "Rooster Speak" post by @Beekissed? I had that one bookmarked too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-becomes-dinner.844018/page-4#post-12626931

@RoostersAreAwesome did you ever end up rehoming Domino? Your rooster flock look nice and content now.

OHMAGOSH!!! THAT'S IT! I was looking in articles and thread titles. I didn't realize that it was buried in another thread ... and I even scanned the beginnings of that one! Thank you, THANK you, THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[MickWithChicks]

Has anyone had any luck integrating new roosters to the bachelor pad?

I did another hatch at the end of last year. Hatched 19, 17 survived. Of them 13 are pullets and 4 are cockerels (pretty excellent ratio IMHO). They're all about 15 weeks old.

The roos are 1 x Double Laced Barnevelder, 1 x French Wheaton Marans, 1 x Blue Araucana (AU/UK std) and 1 x Lavender Araucana (AU/UK std). So they're all very unique looking boys and all have great temperaments. I'd love to put them over some hens come spring (we've just entered Autumn in the southern hemisphere).

My existing boys- 2 x black SL and 2 x red SL are going on 2 years old in June. I'm not interested in using them in a breeding program at any point in time. They fear and respect me, but have no respect for other humans (and will charge them wings down). They largely ignore other birds that enter their space. Their space is adequate for the 4 of them and can easily be expanded to accomodate another 4, giving them at least 10m² each and plenty of dividing space to be out of each others eye lines.

Am I asking for trouble even thinking about this?

 

[MROO]

Has anyone had any luck integrating new roosters to the bachelor pad?
...
Am I asking for trouble even thinking about this?

The fact that you have two small groups to integrate definitely works to your advantage. It's much easier to mingle groups than it is to add a single bird to an existing flock. I introduced two groups of three, last fall. They each had a small run/coop setup where there was a common wall. You should have seen the posturing they did through the wire. You would have thought they were out to really clobber each other!
I kept the two trios in their own sections for a good month and a half before taking out the removable panel between them. By then, the posturing was pretty much over except for a bit of name-calling through the wire - much like little boys sticking their tongues out at each other, just because they could.
Once the panel came down, it didn't take long for the exploring to start. There was some squabbling while they figured out their new pecking order, but all in all, things went pretty smoothly. I left the dual water and feeding stations up for awhile, at least until they were all sharing the larger ones. They've been contentedly co-habitating all winter, now. So far, so good.
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised at how bloodlessly the integration went. Each group still roosts together, but separately from the other trio. They mingle, eat and drink all day, together. The only issue they have is not one at all, according to them. When one crows, they ALL crow. It's a regular chorus for about twenty minutes, at least a dozen times a day ... starting at 4:30 am. I am SO grateful for tolerant neighbors!

 

[centrarchid]

Mine

The fact that you have two small groups to integrate definitely works to your advantage. It's much easier to mingle groups than it is to add a single bird to an existing flock. I introduced two groups of three, last fall. They each had a small run/coop setup where there was a common wall. You should have seen the posturing they did through the wire. You would have thought they were out to really clobber each other!
I kept the two trios in their own sections for a good month and a half before taking out the removable panel between them. By then, the posturing was pretty much over except for a bit of name-calling through the wire - much like little boys sticking their tongues out at each other, just because they could.
Once the panel came down, it didn't take long for the exploring to start. There was some squabbling while they figured out their new pecking order, but all in all, things went pretty smoothly. I left the dual water and feeding stations up for awhile, at least until they were all sharing the larger ones. They've been contentedly co-habitating all winter, now. So far, so good.
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised at how bloodlessly the integration went. Each group still roosts together, but separately from the other trio. They mingle, eat and drink all day, together. The only issue they have is not one at all, according to them. When one crows, they ALL crow. It's a regular chorus for about twenty minutes, at least a dozen times a day ... starting at 4:30 am. I am SO grateful for tolerant neighbors!

Mine do a little butt kicking sometimes so best to introduce in morning on day you can be around to watch. I try to do most if not all introductions on Saturday morning.

 

[MickWithChicks]

Thanks for the integration hints and tips. I ended up moving these young 4 on as I don't think I'll have a chance to extend the rooster area or start my breeding program anytime this year. Someone on a local FB group was looking for dark brown and blue egg-gene roosters to start his easter/olive egger project and was happy to buy all four off me (which was exactly my plan for later in the year). I still have my original 4 boys though, and I'll revisit the program in 2020.

 

[MROO]

Thanks for the integration hints and tips. I ended up moving these young 4 on as I don't think I'll have a chance to extend the rooster area or start my breeding program anytime this year. Someone on a local FB group was looking for dark brown and blue egg-gene roosters to start his easter/olive egger project and was happy to buy all four off me (which was exactly my plan for later in the year). I still have my original 4 boys though, and I'll revisit the program in 2020.

Glad to hear it all worked out ... and that you've now got time to plan your program.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Has anyone had any luck integrating new roosters to the bachelor pad?

I did another hatch at the end of last year. Hatched 19, 17 survived. Of them 13 are pullets and 4 are cockerels (pretty excellent ratio IMHO). They're all about 15 weeks old.

The roos are 1 x Double Laced Barnevelder, 1 x French Wheaton Marans, 1 x Blue Araucana (AU/UK std) and 1 x Lavender Araucana (AU/UK std). So they're all very unique looking boys and all have great temperaments. I'd love to put them over some hens come spring (we've just entered Autumn in the southern hemisphere).

My existing boys- 2 x black SL and 2 x red SL are going on 2 years old in June. I'm not interested in using them in a breeding program at any point in time. They fear and respect me, but have no respect for other humans (and will charge them wings down). They largely ignore other birds that enter their space. Their space is adequate for the 4 of them and can easily be expanded to accomodate another 4, giving them at least 10m² each and plenty of dividing space to be out of each others eye lines.

Am I asking for trouble even thinking about this?

I did, and it didn't go well. Mind you, I only added one. He only survived about 2 weeks