Rooster Transition

[team_realtree]

im just starting a flock with 3 hens. eventually i want to get a rooster. once he has been quarantined and there are no health problems how do i add him to the coop. just throw him in? will the hens go nuts? thanks

 

[team_realtree]

helloooo

 

[Autumn Mama]

Sometimes with the pace of posts, folks may not be able to respond to everyone quickly. Bumping is always a good idea, like you did!

I'm not sure how to integrate him, per se, except to introduce him perhaps for brief periods over a week or so, while keepin them all busy with some scratch or another treat to focus their attention on something else.

Maybe others who have actually done this will chime in...

I will mention that it is commonly discussed on BYC that a rooster/hen ratio of 1:3 may cause stress to the hens. They will be mated frequently, and unless you have *huge* amounts of room for them to free range, they not get much of a break form the roo. Providing places for them to hide out would be an alternative, if they will be confined to a run. Something to consider...

Other opinions on that?

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

I would set them up on a blind date and have them meet at Red Lobster or Applebee's and see how they get along. That what I always do.

 

[hinkjc]

We introduce newbies to the flock at night. Place them on the roost with the others and go out early in the morning to check on things. This tends to work well most of the time.

 

[crazyhen]

I would not get a rooster that is partially grown or grown! There is too much chance of introducing disease into to your tiny flock. Even if you segregate him for a month he could have a disease that will reflare up later. Get a chick and rear him yourself. When he is about 16 to 18 weeks old then introduce him to your ladies. One rooster to two or three hens can really be too much for the hens to cope with. You will really need a seperate pen for them to have some rest periods. I am going through this now with my young roo. He is really tiring out some of my older hens he is favoring. I have to seperate them during the day sometimes if I notice him sort of picking on the same ones much. Good luck. Gloria Jean