Young rooster. How to introduce to the flock?

[Lunafarmchickens]

I have a 2 month old rooster, he is an easter egger, leghorn mix. I'm guessing he will probably be medium sized, when he grows up. His father has just passed away, so he has to replace him. Right now he lives with my silkie flock, with his (surrogate) mother, and his sisters. He has already tried to mate with some of the girls, but has not succeeded. Since he has to go to the big flock to replace his dad, I was wondering when would be the best time to put him in, and how to do it. There are 17 hens in the big flock, and i'm worried that if I put him in too early, they might hurt or kill him. There is one other girl chick (depending on what size she becomes) that may go with him to the big flock, so he might not be completely alone. I really just don't want him to get hurt, but the big flock needs a rooster. I hope someone can give me some advice soon.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Pork Pie]

It would be easier, certainly on the pullet, to introduce them both at the same time. This link is helpful -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

You can begin this kind of integration now, with the aim of allowing physical contact in a few weeks time - by 10 weeks they should be able to cope with the inevitable pecking that they will receive.

 

[chickens really]

Do you free range at all?......That's how I introduce birds....Look no touch pens help....

 

[lazy gardener]

I would get the young cockerel and the young pullet introduced to the older flock sooner rather than later. If you wait till his hormones kick in it may not go as smoothly. I like to complete integration before the chicks "loose their peep." If you have plenty of space, and plenty of feed/water stations, as well as multi height and out of sight (but no dead end) areas in the coop/run they should be ok. Of course supervision needed, and if you can free range, even for a couple of supervised hours/day, that's the best time to do so b/c they all will be too busy snacking to worry about hazing the kids. Beware, that cockerel may vent all of his affection on the poor pullet. You may have to deal with that.

 

[Lunafarmchickens]

I would get the young cockerel and the young pullet introduced to the older flock sooner rather than later. If you wait till his hormones kick in it may not go as smoothly. I like to complete integration before the chicks "loose their peep." If you have plenty of space, and plenty of feed/water stations, as well as multi height and out of sight (but no dead end) areas in the coop/run they should be ok. Of course supervision needed, and if you can free range, even for a couple of supervised hours/day, that's the best time to do so b/c they all will be too busy snacking to worry about hazing the kids. Beware, that cockerel may vent all of his affection on the poor pullet. You may have to deal with that.

Thank you! I will try to do this soon, because he crowed for the first time yesterday. I'm guessing that until he fights back they will beat him up pretty good? The little flock and the big flock, rotate days for freeranging. My big flock has a perching area, a pen, and an egglaying coop. Most of them sleep in the perching area, while a couple sleep in the egg coop, I don't really know where he would sleep tho... Thanks again for your advice, and maybe in 1 or 2 more weeks we'll give it a try.

 

[lazy gardener]

Why not let him and the pullet out to free range with the older gals?

 

[Lunafarmchickens]

Why not let him and the pullet out to free range with the older gals?

I tried that tonight, and it went pretty well! I think now i can let them out at the same time, I was worried that they would hurt them when they were really little tho.

 

[Phoenixxx]

If it went well, i would say they can all go to bed together tonight I am not normally so kind with introductions here - new ones arrive and get tossed right in. No free-ranging for any of them for 2-3 days just to get "home" burned into the newcomers' brains. I will add chicks as young as 4 weeks with no problems I just have to give them separate food in whatever "safe corner" they've found until they either bone up or get adopted, lol!