Rooster & pullets

[DrCB]

I have a 3 year old Bantam Rooster and four 9 month old girls. They have been living together, separated by wire. They can see each other but the wire fence allows no physical contact.

When would you say they could be allowed to be together? How old for the girls?

Thanks.
DrCB

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They should be old enough now. Are the hens laying?

 

[DrCB]

No - they are only 9 weeks old.

 

[aart]

No - they are only 9 weeks old.

First post said 9 months old.

If cockbird is a good one, he won't harass or try to mate them.
I'd give it a try but be ready to separate if he gets to exuberant.
He may try to mount just for dominance.

Can depend on your setup...follow the genreal integration rules:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[DrCB]

Thanks for the info.
But yes, I goofed in my first message - my girls are only 9 WEEKS old, not 9 months.
DrCB

 

[elaineinspain]

I have a little flock of 3 hens and one rooster. (When we got them we thought they were all pullets) Now two of the three hens are broody and are in broody pens setting eggs. Which leaves just one hen with my rooster. I've noticed the feathers on her back are all ripped off and I can see the down (She's an orpington) so she's obviously getting too much of mr rooster's affections. Is it ok to separate the rooster from the flock? I have an extra coop with small run right next to the area where my flock is. I was thinking I'd leave him in there until the hens feathers have grown back. Or would it be not such a good idea because when he comes back there will be (hopefully) 8 new chicks running around.

 

[aart]

Absolutely isolate him.
Depending on how good a cockbird he is, he shouldn't bother the chicks.
Tho having all 4 of your bird in separate enclosure may take some good reintegration techniques.

 

[elaineinspain]

Absolutely isolate him.
Depending on how good a cockbird he is, he shouldn't bother the chicks.
Tho having all 4 of your bird in separate enclosure may take some good reintegration techniques.

Thank you for the quick reply aart. I put him in the little coop this morning. My orpington hen looks much happier already - like she's breathed a sigh of relief!. The two broodies are in pens located in the main coop and they can see each other as the broody pens are covered in hardware cloth. They can also see the orpington hen as she lives in that coop and goes in regularly to eat, scratch, lay, and she looks in the pens. Hatch day is this Sunday. Let's see how it goes. One day at a time.