Well, I guess I have a rooster :-(

[Leigti]

I have a barred rock chick that I am 99% sure is going to be a rooster. Really bums me out because I was looking forward to having another barred rock hen. He is about seven weeks old now, A friend of mine might take him, they live out the country and have some mature chickens. At what age does he have to be to be introduced to them safely?

 

[A.M. Eggs]

Yes, that is a rooster. He would need to be about 4 months to go in with mature hens, I believe.

Also my profile picture has my beautiful BR rooster. He will cuddle you to death.

 

[Leigti]

Yes, that is a rooster. He would need to be about 4 months to go in with mature hens, I believe.

Also my profile picture has my beautiful BR rooster. He will cuddle you to death.

Thanks for the reply. He is going to be one good looking rooster. But unfortunately I can’t have roosters in town.

 

[aart]

At what age does he have to be to be introduced to them safely?

Integrating a single bird to an establish flock is almost always problematic.
Only exception being a 'good' and mature adult(~1yo) male into a flock of females,
he can usually be released into the flock after just a day or so of 'look no touch'.

Hopefully your friends understand that.

 

[Leigti]

Integrating a single bird to an establish flock is almost always problematic.
Only exception being a 'good' and mature adult(~1yo) male into a flock of females,
he can usually be released into the flock after just a day or so of 'look no touch'.

Hopefully your friends understand that.

They understand that. Do you think a month of separation would be good enough? Maybe put a small pan inside the run?

 

[aart]

Hard to say, many ways to 'manage' an integration, may depend on their facilities.
Do they already have a male?

This might offer some clues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

So might this...
Integration Basics:
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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock