Topic of the Week - Adding a Rooster to the Flock

[BDutch]

This is the topic I need more information on. I might be adding a tiny rooster to a standard size flock of hens.

I have donated a few tiny Dutch bantams and a bantam RIR to several chicken owners who had standard commercial laying hybrids. I saw /heard they got along well immediately or very soon after arriving.

I didnt keep in touch with the new owners. So I don’t know if the tiny /small roosters could fertilise the hens. The people who took my cockerels, mainly wanted a rooster for protection (alarm) and fun. And a small rooster is easier to handle. Also, Dutch bantams roosters look stunning with their large tails.

 

[SkyAJK]

I have donated a few tiny Dutch bantams and a bantam RIR to several chicken owners who had standard commercial laying hybrids. I saw /heard they got along well immediately or very soon after arriving.

I didnt keep in touch with the new owners. So I don’t know if the tiny /small roosters could fertilise the hens. The people who took my cockerels, mainly wanted a rooster for protection (alarm) and fun. And a small rooster is easier to handle. Also, Dutch bantams roosters look stunning with their large tails.

I have not fully integrate him with my flock, but I have let them mingle for an hour in the afternoon.

Yesterday he broke up a fight between the 2 bantam hens and he pecked at one of them. I did not intervene.

This afternoon, 2 standard size hens were fighting each other, he stood in between them to break up their fight, but he only stand to the middle of their necks, they were pecking at each other on the heads while he was in the middle using his body to push one away and so the other, he was not able to break them up. I intervened.

They know he is the rooster for certain, there are 9 standard size hens and they did not pick on him. He is tiny, but brave little rooster, he stands watch while the hens hangout, and he run over whenever he hears one scream.

He did jumped on our biggest hen - Plymouth Rock hen Apple, his body length is half of her body length, we took him off her so I don't think he managed his deed, but even if he did, he won't be able to fertilize her..I am guessing.
I still have much to learn on this.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have not fully integrate him with my flock, but I have let them mingle for an hour in the afternoon.

Yesterday he broke up a fight between the 2 bantam hens and he pecked at one of them. I did not intervene.

This afternoon, 2 standard size hens were fighting each other, he stood in between them to break up their fight, but he only stand to the middle of their necks, they were pecking at each other on the heads while he was in the middle using his body to push one away and so the other, he was not able to break them up. I intervened.

They know he is the rooster for certain, there are 9 standard size hens and they did not pick on him. He is tiny, but brave little rooster, he stands watch while the hens hangout, and he run over whenever he hears one scream.

He did jumped on our biggest hen - Plymouth Rock hen Apple, his body length is half of her body length, we took him off her so I don't think he managed his deed, but even if he did, he won't be able to fertilize her..I am guessing.
I still have much to learn on this.

So you got your rooster!

Where did you find him? How old is he? Any photos?

 

[SkyAJK]

So you got your rooster!

Where did you find him? How old is he? Any photos?

Yes, I got my rooster , how I got him was a mistake.

Pekin Frizzle rooster 7 months. He is so tiny, friendly, very weak in health, and so emotionally needy - once I hold him, he would not want to let go.

I went to poultry market first time ever and saw a stand where people give away their unwanted rooster for a gold coin. They all houses in big metal cages and he was so tiny and I got him for $25.

Before I went to this poultry market, sourland warned me of the illness pick up from such place. My head was in my chickens' vent so I took him home, I found that he had with respiratory illness. I treated him and isolation for over 2 months. He is looking well, energetic, crow so loud, jump over a 1m height enclosure, fly chasing wild birds away, then he got depressed, I think he was feeling lonely so I let him mingle with the flock a bit each day, I will say this..there is an imminent risk of whatever respiratory illness he had, he might still be able to infect my flock.

Yesterday I found that my flock did not need a rooster, they were happily hanging out and now they have to avoid a rooster's advance.

I love to have a rooster in my flock as my previous rooster was a peace maker and keep order. Once he gone, my flock was chaotic, and it was so bad at time. Now that they settled for not having one or might be they all settled because they heard his crow.

Yesterday he chases the big hen, and the little bantam. They scream running away from him.

It was good when I first let them mingle, now it is a bit troublesome, the flock will evolve in time.

I will not want to go to poultry market again and see anything of such like give away roosters. Very sad how they were treated.