So I am thinking of getting a rooster. I have 12 pullet chicks. 10 are almost 8 weeks old, the other 2 are 5-6 weeks old. The rooster I have found is almost 15 weeks old. The person who has him says this:
EEs personality toward people is, he doesn't care about people and is skittish. He is like this because I purposely did not hold him when I was sure he was a cockerel. The reason I did this is because when you hold a young cockerel a lot he sees you as his equal and as he will get older he will attack you. (not always) When he was younger he did try to peck me, but I corrected that behavior and he no longer tries to peck me. His behavior toward the other chicks seems ok so far. I have 1 other cockerel and 5 pullets. He is a bit mean to the other cockerel, and that cockerel is scared of him, so I think the EE cockerel is alpha. His behavior toward the pullets is looking ok, I don't think he's being mean to them at all, at least that I'm aware of. He is 14.5 weeks old as of today, he hatched on February 23rd and is from Ideal Poultry.
Do you think that sounds like a Rooster who would be good for my flock? How hard would he be to integrate and how should I do it? My coop is 10x12, no run. I want to make sure I get one who will be good to my girls and who is also good for a first time rooster owner. Should I get him as soon as possible or would it be good to wait a little longer? Will there be issues with him reaching sexual maturity before the girls?
Thoughts/Advice/Suggestions?
EEs personality toward people is, he doesn't care about people and is skittish. He is like this because I purposely did not hold him when I was sure he was a cockerel. The reason I did this is because when you hold a young cockerel a lot he sees you as his equal and as he will get older he will attack you. (not always) When he was younger he did try to peck me, but I corrected that behavior and he no longer tries to peck me. His behavior toward the other chicks seems ok so far. I have 1 other cockerel and 5 pullets. He is a bit mean to the other cockerel, and that cockerel is scared of him, so I think the EE cockerel is alpha. His behavior toward the pullets is looking ok, I don't think he's being mean to them at all, at least that I'm aware of. He is 14.5 weeks old as of today, he hatched on February 23rd and is from Ideal Poultry.
Do you think that sounds like a Rooster who would be good for my flock? How hard would he be to integrate and how should I do it? My coop is 10x12, no run. I want to make sure I get one who will be good to my girls and who is also good for a first time rooster owner. Should I get him as soon as possible or would it be good to wait a little longer? Will there be issues with him reaching sexual maturity before the girls?
Thoughts/Advice/Suggestions?