Tips on getting flock to accept a rooster?

[FatBurrito]

My first batch of eggs in the incubator had two chicks hatch but one died soon after. I raised the chick on its own and spent all my time with it as it didn't have another chicken. It cuddled with stuffed animals and was super friendly. After a few months being the center of attention and getting used to air conditioning it was time to put the chick with the flock. We found that it adjusted quickly but the flock didn't seem to accept it. (forgot to mention it's a rooster) The hens have accepted him by now by my one other rooster simply cannot. He'll chase after the other rooster, who's his son and definitely younger than the flock but not by too much, and occasionally manage to attack him. My younger rooster doesn't get hurt but in an attempt to run this week, he cut his crown and has bled twice just this week. How can we get the rooster to accept him? Should we maybe give away the rooster all together?

 

[PlymouthRockBBredSebright]

no. introduce them through a cage for 2 to 4 days, with food and water in the cage for the rooster. after that time period let him out

 

[FatBurrito]

no. introduce them through a cage for 2 to 4 days, with food and water in the cage for the rooster. after that time period let him out

That's exactly what I did this morning, will it help?

 

[Hopperkiller]

That's exactly what I did this morning, will it help?[/QUOTE



Son or not, i had 2 roosters raised together and put the with 8 hens. When puberty hit so did the problems. I had to make a choice. The younger rooster was chased by the hens until he grew big enough. I bet you will have to choose.

 

[FatBurrito]

Most likely yes, is there a way to condition the other rooster? Train it to accept the other roo?

 

[bobbi-j]

I doubt it. Chickens don't recognize familial relationships. Your older rooster sees a competitor in his flock. He doesn't see his son (who I'm guessing is still a cockerel - under a year old). I don't know how old the younger one is, but if he's not of breeding age yet, be aware. When those hormones hit (usually around 4-6 months of age), they can only think of one thing. Breeding those hens! There well could be fights to establish dominance that may leave one or both of your guys injured or even killed.

I don't know how many hens you have, but two roosters could easily over mate them and cause them to be stressed. Stressed hens don't lay. If it were my flock, I'd keep one or the other, but not both. The only reason I'd keep one is because I like to let my flock reproduce on its own. Otherwise, I'd have to think twice about keeping either of them.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

You likely will not get the other Rooster to accept his young rival to integrate into them flock. They will fight for dominance of the flock and there will be injuries, likely. Sorry.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

It doesn't sound like the older rooster is hurting the young one too much, I would just let them be unless the older roo really hurts the younger one.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Roosters are ruled by sexual jealousy. It is not nor will it ever be in a roosters best interest to play nice with a competing male chicken. This is what the pecking order is about. Any alpha rooster will only tolerate another rooster if the beta rooster is subservient to his overlord, and at that only as long as the uber rooster can see the underling. How it plays out in hatching egg flocks with 100s or 1,000s of chickens is that there are so many roosters and hens running together that no chicken can possibility keep up with which chicken is which.

 

[FatBurrito]

I doubt it. Chickens don't recognize familial relationships. Your older rooster sees a competitor in his flock. He doesn't see his son (who I'm guessing is still a cockerel - under a year old). I don't know how old the younger one is, but if he's not of breeding age yet, be aware. When those hormones hit (usually around 4-6 months of age), they can only think of one thing. Breeding those hens! There well could be fights to establish dominance that may leave one or both of your guys injured or even killed.

I don't know how many hens you have, but two roosters could easily over mate them and cause them to be stressed. Stressed hens don't lay. If it were my flock, I'd keep one or the other, but not both. The only reason I'd keep one is because I like to let my flock reproduce on its own. Otherwise, I'd have to think twice about keeping either of them.

You likely will not get the other Rooster to accept his young rival to integrate into them flock. They will fight for dominance of the flock and there will be injuries, likely. Sorry.

So i'm guessing the best plan is to give one away? It's highly unlikely the older rooster to accept the younger one correct?