Will my rooster be good with new members?

[Annalyse]

Next year well maybe in another year or so. Whenever were ready lol were going to be making the coop a little bigger and hopefully getting more chickens. I have 7 chickens 1 rooster and 6 girls. Out of the six girls I have 1 silkie and she is the smallest. I was hoping I could get maybe 2 more silkies and a frizzle or whatever there names are I forgot. Well my rooster is attitude here and there but with the silkies I have a feeling I might not get so lucky with another female this time. It's hard for me not to get attached to the chicks and if I do get a roo silkie I doubt my rooster will be okay with it either. My rooster is not a year old yet until February 2021 so hopefully he matures by then but what are your ideas in adding new members.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

It all depends on your roosters attitude. I’m integrating 9 9 week old chicks into my 1 flock of 13, 12 girls & 1 boy. It’s always the girls picking & pecking at my babies. My roo hasn’t tried hurting any of them & is usually trying to shoo his lady away from hurting the chick.

I also have a flock of bantams, 6 of them. When I first got them, I kept them in an inclosed run directly beside my first flock. My OG’s could see the bantams, but not touch. I kept them that way for 30 + days. I let the bantams out to free range before my OG’s. After 30 mins to an hour, I let my OG’s out to free range. They didn’t care for them at first, they squabbled & did their thing. They still don’t get along 100% today, but they can coexist with each other without too much fuss.

There are probably easier ways to add new members, but really it’s just trial & error.

 

[Annalyse]

It all depends on your roosters attitude. I’m integrating 9 9 week old chicks into my 1 flock of 13, 12 girls & 1 boy. It’s always the girls picking & pecking at my babies. My roo hasn’t tried hurting any of them & is usually trying to shoo his lady away from hurting the chick.

I also have a flock of bantams, 6 of them. When I first got them, I kept them in an inclosed run directly beside my first flock. My OG’s could see the bantams, but not touch. I kept them that way for 30 + days. I let the bantams out to free range before my OG’s. After 30 mins to an hour, I let my OG’s out to free range. They didn’t care for them at first, they squabbled & did their thing. They still don’t get along 100% today, but they can coexist with each other without too much fuss.

There are probably easier ways to add new members, but really it’s just trial & error.

thank you. My 1 silkie is the smallest and the girls bg her but my rooster knows not to touch her. Im just worried I wont know one of the new ones is a rooster until my rooster and him start squaring up and I don't want to take chances. Im going to be trying my best with not getting attached until I know for sure its a girl. lol

 

[aart]

Always have a crate or enclosure to separate 'troublesome' birds.

 

[Annalyse]

Always have a crate or enclosure to separate 'troublesome' birds.

Thank you, and yes when it does happen I will introduce them slowly. Maybe let them free range in the garden area together a little bit and see how it goes.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

I've read that it all depends on the individual rooster. Some people have good success stories and others have to become creative to keep peace in the flock.

I have had very little experience but I will share; I gave my rooster named "Amber" to my mom (and a pullet named "Spiderman") because she lives in the country but, she needed more hens for him so we introduced Amber to new females twice. The first time, my mom only added 1 hen and this is how it went:

Spiderman (the gray pullet) had a harder time with the new hen, chasing her away for a week.
I didn't record the 2nd time we introduced Amber with 3 (1 hen/2 pullets). Amber was not having it. So, for two weeks the new 3 stayed away in the coop or behind a barrier. He is nicer to the new hens than the pullets.

You obviously have a larger hen to rooster ratio, don't know if that makes a difference. Better to play it safe with a crate and keep a good eye when they're together. Make sure there's enough feeders/waterers, and a place for them to "escape" or hide if needed.

Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[Annalyse]

I've read that it all depends on the individual rooster. Some people have good success stories and others have to become creative to keep peace in the flock.

I have had very little experience but I will share; I gave my rooster named "Amber" to my mom (and a pullet named "Spiderman") because she lives in the country but, she needed more hens for him so we introduced Amber to new females twice. The first time, my mom only added 1 hen and this is how it went:

Spiderman (the gray pullet) had a harder time with the new hen, chasing her away for a week.
I didn't record the 2nd time we introduced Amber with 3 (1 hen/2 pullets). Amber was not having it. So, for two weeks the new 3 stayed away in the coop or behind a barrier. He is nicer to the new hens than the pullets.

You obviously have a larger hen to rooster ratio, don't know if that makes a difference. Better to play it safe with a crate and keep a good eye when they're together. Make sure there's enough feeders/waterers, and a place for them to "escape" or hide if needed.

Wishing you the best of luck!

We have branches that they use for perches outside so if the hens don't want my rooster to mate them they jump up there and he gives up. Thank you for the reply. Im hoping everything will go well. we will be making the coop bigger for more space.

 

[Mrs. K]

You might consider, not building bigger, but rather building a second coop/run. They are very handy for all kinds of things, but while some people can and do run a mix of standard and bantam, for some people it does not work.

You might consider having two flocks, a bantam and a standard, but separate.

Mrs K

 

[Annalyse]

You might consider, not building bigger, but rather building a second coop/run. They are very handy for all kinds of things, but while some people can and do run a mix of standard and bantam, for some people it does not work.

You might consider having two flocks, a bantam and a standard, but separate.

Mrs K

but if I do that and have them go into the same run how would I have them sleep in their specific coops? My yard is not big enough or the area we have our giant run will not be able to suit another coop. Ill figure something out

 

[aart]

but if I do that and have them go into the same run how would I have them sleep in their specific coops? My yard is not big enough or the area we have our giant run will not be able to suit another coop. Ill figure something out

Split the run with a temporary fence, or a fence with a gate.
Once they are acclimated to their 'home' coops, they will sleep there.
The gate allows you to let them mingle, or not.