Where to put the rooster??

[Lovely_Ladies]

Hello Everyone,
I have six 17 Week old hens. They have a chicken coop that is 5’ X 4’. They have a run which is approximately 10’ X 25’ plus free ranging all over everywhere. We have a neighbor who only wanted hens & bought several chicks two of which turned out to be roosters. She would like to give us one of her roosters (which is approximately the same age as ours). Is there a special way to bring this rooster into the flock? Or do we just put them out together and let nature take its course?? Please help we are expecting the rooster to arrive no later than 8/14/2020
~Lovely Ladies

***I have attempted to attach photos of the coop (a work in progress) & the fenced in area (the run).

 

[CluckerFamily]

You need to introduce him like you would any other chicken. If you just put him in the group right away they will gang up on him. A lady I knew made this mistake, the rooster survived but he remembered which ladies ganged up on him and he wouldn't allow those to eat any of the feed.

 

[Lovely_Ladies]

How would you suggest I go about it?? We have a large dog kennel would it be okay to set it up inside the run and leave him in there with the ladies for a few hours then let him out??

 

[Lovely_Ladies]

You need to introduce him like you would any other chicken. If you just put him in the group right away they will gang up on him. A lady I knew made this mistake, the rooster survived but he remembered which ladies ganged up on him and he wouldn't allow those to eat any of the feed.

How would you suggest I go about it?? We have a large dog kennel would it be okay to set it up inside the run and leave him in there with the ladies for a few hours then let him out??

 

[CluckerFamily]

The kennel will work but for longer than that.
I always error on the side of caution when integrating so that it doesn't go bad. I keep them separate or divided in the same coop and run for 3 weeks. Then I let them/him out under supervision. If all goes well, I can walk away; if something goes wrong, I would put him back in the kennel for a couple days.

 

[Lovely_Ladies]

The kennel will work but for longer than that.
I always error on the side of caution when integrating so that it doesn't go bad. I keep them separate or divided in the same coop and run for 3 weeks. Then I let them/him out under supervision. If all goes well, I can walk away; if something goes wrong, I would put him back in the kennel for a couple days.

Okay! Thank you! What would you suggest to use to separate them INSIDE the coop? Something like chicken wire/fencing or wood? Then put rooster in dog kennel during the day and keep hens locked in the run for a few weeks? Would that be okay?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I created a simple divider for in the coop made of chicken wire and a wood frame (but the frame isn't all the way around so I can fold it up for another day), I choose to make everyone share the same waterer so there is a gap in my divider to fit a big waterer but no one can sneak through. During the day, I put the rooster in the kennel with his own food and water, the ladies can come and go from the coop to the run, if they are comfortable and not stressed, they will approach him and investigate him through the kennel, they need to get use to him.
Make sure the kennel is big enough for him to walk around a little, I'm not a fan of cages for chickens but some people are okay with it.

 

[Lovely_Ladies]

The kennel will work but for longer than that.
I always error on the side of caution when integrating so that it doesn't go bad. I keep them separate or divided in the same coop and run for 3 weeks. Then I let them/him out under supervision. If all goes well, I can walk away; if something goes wrong, I would put him back in the kennel for a couple days.

 

[Lovely_Ladies]

I created a simple divider for in the coop made of chicken wire and a wood frame (but the frame isn't all the way around so I can fold it up for another day), I choose to make everyone share the same waterer so there is a gap in my divider to fit a big waterer but no one can sneak through. During the day, I put the rooster in the kennel with his own food and water, the ladies can come and go from the coop to the run, if they are comfortable and not stressed, they will approach him and investigate him through the kennel, they need to get use to him.
Make sure the kennel is big enough for him to walk around a little, I'm not a fan of cages for chickens but some people are okay with it.

These are inside pictures of coop. See attachment let me know if you think your suggestions would work or if we should learn from you & add on. Also the kennel is the size for large breed dog Rottweiler, Pitbull, Labrador (only used for after surgeries while we were at work..not a fan of crates either)

 

[2 many chickens]

He needs to be in a kennel in the coop, with his own feed and water, for at least 2 weeks. With slow introductions after that. There will be some pecking, but not as vicious.