Will hens accept a rooster?

[Jmiller89]

We are picking up a rooster for our hens. Will they accept him in since it’s a boy or will there be pecking order fights? Trying to gauge if I need to separate him off for awhile or not.

 

[lagrange chicks]

I would keep him separate from the girls for awhile just to make sure he doesn't bring unwanted disease to the flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We are picking up a rooster for our hens. Will they accept him in since it’s a boy or will there be pecking order fights? Trying to gauge if I need to separate him off for awhile or not.

How old is the male? How old are the girls, are they laying yet? Integrating immature cockerels can be a pain. Pullets' behaviors change when they start laying.

Often adding a mature rooster to a flock of laying hens is the easiest kind of integration. He struts in, wows them with his self-confidence and magnificence, mates a couple, and the flock is his. But occasionally you get a head hen that does not want to accept a male as flock master. If the male doesn't have the self-confidence to strut in and take over it can get messy. A lot depends on the individual personalities.

From what I've seen, the majority of the time it is a very peaceful takeover. Very little if any drama. But occasionally it can go wrong. But the ages and maturity levels of the chickens involved have a whole lot to say about how it will go. So how old are they?

 

[Jmiller89]

The Rooster is 14 months and most of the girls just started laying and are 27wks.

Like you said. The top two hens picked a fight initially and got mated . Today they are one big happy family.