Adding a cockerel (rooster) to your existing flock of hens is one of those things where you’ll find almost as many different opinions as there are chicken breeds! It’s a passionate subject, and one that I had the opportunity to delve into recently.
In the fall of 2011, a post came across our local Freecycle group looking for a home for a beautiful young Buff Orpington rooster. He’d been part of a larger flock that included a number of roosters, most of whom had ended up in the stew pot – save for this guy, and his infinitely more aggressive coop-mate. The owners had isolated him in his own coop/run to keep him safe – he was a lonely guy! At the time, I seriously considered bringing him home, to the point of contacting the owner and making arrangements to go out for an introduction.
But things just didn’t gel and we never did make it out to the farm to see him.
Then a couple of months later, the post came over Freecycle again. He was still looking for a home. And my research background kicked into high gear.
I spent an entire day, maybe two, researching rooster behaviour, flock behaviour and the best way to introduce a rooster to an existing group of hens. Visited probably 20 different websites and forums – all with clearly valid and experienced advice on the best way to accomplish the task successfully (and safely for all involved). But the best wisdom came from our Facebook page – I can’t thank everyone there enough! (If you haven’t had a chance to join us there, do! We’ve got a fantastic group of people from all walks of life and stages of ‘self-sufficiency’ – newbies, will-be’s, and incredibly experienced folk: facebook.com/modernhomesteading).
After a number of questions and a lot of reading, we decided to take the plunge.
I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit nervous. In my research, I’d come across some horror stories of roosters who were way too aggressive for the hens, and hens that literally ‘hen-pecked’ their new gentleman caller til he had to be removed to save his life. Life with chickens isn’t always pretty. But I decided to swallow that fear and take the plunge into the world of roosters and having an intact flock of birds living as nature intended. Well, sort of like nature intended – as much as can be realistically recreated in a backyard type arrangement.
Why Have a Rooster?
There are numerous reasons to have a rooster as part of your flock. Some people thought we were crazy for wanting to bring a rooster on board, and many others were excited for us as we took this further step towards ‘self-reliance’.
These are the reasons we wanted a rooster:
- After losing a hen to a coyote because she wandered far away from the flock, we thought having a rooster to keep the girls ’rounded up’ would be advantageous.
- A good rooster will apparently throw himself between the hens and a predator, essentially sacrificing himself for the good of the flock. Not that I want to sacrifice our gorgeous guy, but hens are a big time and sometimes financial investment – losing just one is a big deal (at least to me). And roosters are just tougher, generally speaking.
- Once a good rooster is present, the hens can settle into more of a relaxed state because they no longer have to be hyper-vigilant about keeping an eye out for predators. They’ve got someone else to do that job now. Not that we want them to get totally complacent, but having them not beating each other up on a regular basis was a definite plus in our eyes.
- We plan to renew our flock with a few new chicks every year – this way, the flock becomes self-sustaining to a degree. I do need to do more research in this regard as to how the genetics work after the first year (we’re still new at this), but for 2012, we now have that capacity.
- There’s just something about a rooster on a homestead. Many people can’t stand the sound of a rooster’s crowing, but I love it. (Yes, even at 4:30 a.m.)
How We Did It
Now, after assessing all the pros and cons and determining our reasons for wanting a rooster were valid and reasonable, here are the steps we took to introduce our ‘Tom Wattles’ successfully to our girls:
- Determine a Good Fit: First off, the rooster in question had to be a good fit for our existing flock of hens – and for our family. In this case, we knew he wasn’t overly aggressive (he’d lost the battle with is coop-mate), had a gentle disposition, and was slightly older than our 14 hens (they were 7 months at the time, he was 9). I’d read that younger roosters can be ripped to shreds if introduced to older hens, especially if the rooster is on the docile end of the spectrum, so it was important to me that any rooster we brought into the flock was able to hold his own and exert dominance without being overly aggressive). The breed mattered as well – Buff Orpingtons are known as a more ‘personable’ breed, so that fed into our decision as well, as my son does a lot of our chicken care, and it was important to me that the rooster was gentle and not aggressive to children especially, but to humans in general. Also, when we visited him at his original home, it was clear he was well cared for and healthy. We were able to get a full history on his health and behaviour, which allowed us to determine if he was a good fit. We decided he was perfect!
- The First Night: We brought him home that first day in a big cardboard box in the back seat of the car. The whole process was pretty calm. He was super gentle and allowed my son to collect him out of the box to transfer him to his temporary quarantine pen inside my son’s ‘fort’. We provided him with a bit of scratch and a dish of water, as well as a towel covering up the tarp we’d put on the floor. Not ideal, probably, but he was safe for his first night with us. Hearing him crow that next morning was so wonderful!
- Quarantine: In my research, I’d read many experienced people making it very clear that quarantine of new birds was absolutely essential. The advice went from 72 hours to assess disease to 30 days of isolation from the existing flock. We decided on something to the lower end of the scale, mostly because we didn’t have a secure ‘extra’ coop to house him in for 30 days. He stayed in my son’s fort (the only other place on the property that is secure from weasels) for 5 nights, and was moved to our portable run during the day. We located the portable run about 50 feet from the coop and run where the girls were and they spent 5 days eyeballing each other across the lawn… or rather what’s left of the lawn now that the chickens have had their way with it for the last few months! This went really well, even through a coyote ambush where our new guy got his first taste of life in our little hollow – including a few lost tail feathers. He definitely knows what to look for now!
- Checking for Disease and/or Mites: The quarantine period allows us to watch our new bird for any signs of illness – runny ‘nose’, sneezing, droopiness, etc., as well as checking him for mites. I was pretty sure he didn’t have any of these things, but I’m glad we took that time. Some more cautious chicken-raisers warned that some illnesses don’t show up in a few days, but rather a few weeks – and that anything less than a 30 day quarantine is asking for trouble. This may absolutely be true in many cases. But in our case, we visited the flock that this guy came from, and I trusted the owners when they said that the flock was not ill and had not been ill and showed no signs of illness of any kind. Sure, some illnesses don’t show signs right away, but their birds aren’t located near any other flocks, and while yes, I’m sure there was a chance of something ‘getting through’, I was comfortable in what my research had turned up and in our decision. So we watched him closely, gave him two dust baths with diatomaceous earth (which was a bit of a challenge, but I think it worked), and planned the big introduction.
- Introductions: On Day 6, we decided it was time to get these birds all together. So on the advice of numerous experts, we waited til nightfall, carried ‘Tom’ into the coop when all the girls had taken to their roosts for the night, and popped him up on a roost by himself (across from the others). Then we waited. It was fascinating – first of all, he looked a bit flummoxed by the whole thing, like he couldn’t believe his good fortune… all those girls!! (Yes, I’m anthropomorphizing, but it’s hard not to). Then came all the calls and sounds we’d never heard the hens make. After 10 minutes or so, we locked up the coop for the night and crossed our fingers that when we came out in the morning, we wouldn’t find a rooster massacre.
- Monitoring: The next morning it was like he had never not been there – just like everyone said would be the case. We monitored them over the next few days, ensuring there wasn’t going to be any bloodletting by the hens, but everything was pretty sedate – save for the first day when one of the hens decided she wasn’t having anything to do with him, and expressed her displeasure by taking a swipe at his comb and wattles (to the point of blood – it was a bit of a mess… but we cleaned him up and all was well). We watched the dominant hens settle down into a new, more relaxed state (there was less fighting among them and less picking on the lower-level hens), and all seemed well. We did this for 4 days to allow for the rooster to get used to the idea that the coop and run was ‘home’, and to cement his role as the dominant member of the flock. And then we let them out to range late one afternoon
It was quite the process, and I’m grateful to everyone who shared their expertise on the subject. Here’s a video of them all together that first day:
The Wrap-Up
Now, three weeks later, we’ve seen that Tom is quite the gentleman, collecting food for his first harem and proudly caring for them when they’re free ranging. He’s not overly aggressive when it comes to mating, and seems to have settled into his role as the protector of the flock. All in all, a great experience! If we hadn’t done our research, the outcome could have been very different. You can check out our chicken videos for updates about Tom Wattles and his girls…
Have you ever introduced a rooster to an existing flock of chickens? How did it go? We’d love to hear any advice you have to share in the comments below.
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Have you figured out how to separate the fertilized eggs from the non fertilized ones?
That’s our next step in the journey! 🙂
I’m new and wanting to know anyone will answer a question I have about my chickens??
Tammy, thanks so much for your kind comments. I love ‘meeting’ people working through the same sorts of challenges we are… 🙂 As for the rooster, I can totally agree – he was a wonderful addition, though the hens with the missing back feathers might not be so keen (mind you, they do seem to like him). Look forward to reading about your adventures!
You can get hen saddles for them. I think where I ordered mine is called “Crazy Chicken Farm”? Just look up Hen saddles on the Web.
Yes, we did end up getting some. I’d never heard of such a thing, and they weren’t thrilled at first, but they definitely helped. Thank you for sharing!
As much as I enjoy the information (we just added a buff Orp rooster to our flock, too – what a sweetheart!). I am loving the commentary more! 🙂
I introduced a rooster to my flock of 9 hens and he will only pay attention to 6 of them. There are 3 that refuse to come out of the coop and when I chase them out the rooster goes after them with a vengence and chases them back into the coop and up on the roost. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get the rooster to accept those 3 hens. When I let them out of the pen to scratch around in the garden, and I chase the 3 “outcasts” out also, the rooster separates the 6 hens from the 3 hens and won’t let them be near each other.
We just introduced a Rhode Island Red rooster to our 5 hens. He is older but not sure of exact age. This is actually his 2nd night in the coop with the hens and he seems pretty tame. Crossing my fingers he is not aggressive as he becomes to his cackoo stage. I’d hate to have to get rid him. Very majestic creatures.
They sure are. We lost our original Buff Orpington rooster to a mountain lion last summer (!) so added a younger Speckled Sussex cross rooster not much older than our latest batch of hens shortly thereafter and he’s, well, let’s just say he’s doing his job protecting them. NOT a friendly… 😉 But I feel strongly about having ‘intact’ flocks, as it’s important to me to provide them with as ‘natural’ a life as possible. I can’t let them free range much due to predators, but having the rooster around seems to allow the hens to be calmer. Plus it’s endlessly fascinating to observe them interacting and what roles each one takes in the group. Interesting, for sure.
we have tried unsuccesfuly to introduse rooster… shame we havent looked at the info – as he is young and was in abusive environment thats where we thought we’ve got saved him from… but our hens too afressive 2 of them atackibg him and because he had bad experience before he just scared and not even protecting himself instead just running and screaming for help… not sure what to do with him now… we keeping him in spare coop at the moment… thought of putting them aggresive hens to that coop and try to keep him with friendly ones to see if that would work… but sad thing he lost way too many tail feathers and was injured so looks a bit ‘poor’… maybe thats the rejecting thing for hens as well…
Poor guy! Yes, we’ve heard of similar. Fortunately the times we’ve done it it’s been flawless, but the hens were young and I think enjoyed having the rooster around.
Hi Paula. Did you ever find out how to get your rooster to accept the other three! We are chicken sitting until our friend finds land outside of town. (Can’t have roosters in town) and we have one chicken that he just goes after. He gets along fine with our four girls who are his age but goes after our 2 year old. I don’t know if it matters but she is our only egg layer right now.
We just introduced a one year old Silver Spangled Hamburg and a 7 to 8 month old Bantam Golden Sebright cross Mille Fleur to great laying 11 month old 3 Barred Rocks, 7 GoldenSex Links, 1 Rhode Island Red and 2 Polish Bantams. All the girls get along well and its often you see the respective breeds hanging out together. This is day 2. No blood shed. But, I am suprised to see the boys hanging out with each other and hiding from the hens. Under sage and scrub brush they are easing their way into being accepted. They all return in the evening to the coop with some minor fuss and the GSL hens will run the boys back out if they enter the coop run before all the girls have entered the roost. I wouldve thought the boys would be a little more assertive, they are smaller than the hens, especially the bantam….we’ll see how it progresses.
I have an 8 month old rooster and 5 hens. I just acquired 5 Orpington hens and a 4 month old Orpington rooster. I’ve had them in a wire pen inside the chicken pen for a week now. I’m wanting to introduce the new six to the older group this afternoon but am unsure about the two roosters. I’m nervous to say the least. I love all my birds and will be heartbroken if I mess this up. Advice Please???
Hilarious the way the film maker thought the rooster was being aggresive to the hen, when all he was doing was chatting her up and trying to get it on! Wasn’t that the reason you got him???
He was 8… I’m sure it would be much different if he shot it now at almost 14 (first of all, it would be a lot shorter… 😉
I added a Creole Orpington Rooster to my existing flock of 19. I kept him in a big crate for 3 days right in the coop. My coop is huge so there was plenty of room. On day 4 that night I placed him on the roost. In the am it was just like you said! Like he had always been with them from the start. They love him and he is such a good protector and always keeping his girls in check. I saved him and he has been the best Rooster ever.
Hi Victoria,
I am presently looking to introduce a 4-month-old rooster to my flock of hens. 4 of them are2 years old, 3 of them are 4-7 months old. He belongs to a friend of mine, I am sure he is healthy. I will do the introduction the same way you did, bring him on a roost in the evening when the girls are settled. I just wanted to know if the hens saw him prior to that at all, or the first time they saw him was in the evening in the coop.
Thank you so much.
Lots of fun! 😉 We’ve done this two times now (I need to update the article) – first time we had the rooster in a separate pen where they could see him for a few hours the day we brought him home. Then we popped him in the coop that night. The second time, just over a year ago (the old rooster got taken by a mountain lion last summer… 🙁 we were planning on the same scenario, though this time we had 15 4 month old hens and three of the original girls (who were then just over 5 years). We popped the rooster (aged about 7 months) into the side pen but they were all so curious about each other that he barrelled down the divider after an hour or so and they’ve been an inseparable flock ever since. He’s nowhere near as calm as the original guy, but he does his job well. Hope that helps – let us know how it goes!
Hi Victoria, I recently did some pet sitting for my neighbor. They are wanting to get rid of their rooster who they say picks on their ducks. This roo is young (6 months) and I feel he’s just establishing himself as the boss. If I take him, my hens are older 3 & 4 yrs and I know there’s no guarantee how things will go, but want to give it a try. I also love crowing!! I don’t want to see him get injured though. The coop is actually 8′ by 16′ and they have a huge pen. I also let them out in a huge area with Omelet fencing. I would keep him in a big dog kennel at first and then put him on the roost at night, like you suggest. I’m not having an easy time deciding, but your info is so helpful. Do you think I should go for it?
SO sorry I missed this – I’ve been off the site for a few months, and just saw this now. Did you do it? How did it go? Would love to know, and again, my apologies for not responding back when you posted. My email stopped sending notifications from the site so I missed months of posts! Catching up now… 🙂
I have a similar problem: I got 4 new pullet and one unfortunately is a rooster. I raised them in a different coop until they had about the same size as my existing flock of 9 about 1.5 years old. They meet each other during their ‘free range time’ in our garden. He’s very protective of ‘his’ girls but learned that the others not really want to be ‘wooed’. Unfortunately he chases 1 of the older chickens and she hides in the wood until he’s out of side. They are together in that way for 3 month and the new ones are actually to big for their coop. I don’t know how to get ‘Chris’ to accept that single one. I am afraid to have to rehome him, but he’s a beautiful Easter Egger rooster. My ‘old’ girls are Isa Browns. Any suggests?
I think that’s a pretty common issue. There’s just no telling how it’s going to go! Fortunately we haven’t had that specific issue – I think our one older hen and the newer rooster have an ‘agreement’. They’re more like Grandma and college student – she keeps him in line a wee bit. backyardchickens.com is a fabulous resource with lots of really experienced people. Some will just say ‘cull’ no matter what the issue, but there are mostly helpful and sensitive responses. Hope that helps – let us know how it goes!
What a charming little camera man. 🙂
🙂 He learned over time about short videos… now he’s almost 15 and I really should get him doing some short how-tos, because he’s getting to be much more in tune with these things than I (especially where the birds are concerned). Thanks for visiting!
I have a year and a half old rooster that takes care of 9 hens. 2 of them went broody. one hatched out a baby rooster and raised him with the flock. Problem is now that he is a cockerel of 14 weeks old, all the hens chase him and he is afraid of them and of me as well and chose to spend nights outside of the coop. Right now i have isolated him in a dog kennel with food etc. He is still so timid, not trusting me either. I am considering culling him because even if I found someone who wanted a young rooster, as timid as he is, I wonder if he would make a good rooster. After isolating him for a number of days in view of the flock, I wonder if they would accept him in time or if he would run away again and he is very hard to catch.
We are introducing a 5 month old Sussex Rooster to our 20 Rhode Island Red Hens as we speak. We didn’t do the quarantine because there wasn’t a safe way to do it. He’s been in a large dog crate inside the enclosed run for a week. The first couple of days some of the hens were wanting to beak fight through the dog crate. Over the weekend, there seem to be 6 or 7 that are constantly by his side. On Saturday, one of the smaller hens was beak fighting and a larger hen jumped on her to break it up. On Sunday, he was given some warm watered chick starter (cold morning), anyway, he had some left on his beak that he was struggling to get off. He stuck his beak through the crate and allowed one of the hens to clean it off. He’s also just started his practice crows. His name is “Buddy” and it’s looking like we’ll be able to do a supervised release very soon.