Need Help Introducing A Rooster!

Sort by date Sort by reaction score
LapisLazuli

LapisLazuli

Songster
Sep 3, 2020
378
679
171
Illinois
I have a small coop (2x4 with a small run) with 2 bantam hens currently in it. I am getting a bantam rooster later today. How should I integrate him with the other two? Thanks!
 
BarnyardChaos

BarnyardChaos

Songster
5 Years
Apr 23, 2017
263
524
216
Richmond, MO
LapisLazuli said:
I have a small coop (2x4 with a small run) with 2 bantam hens currently in it. I am getting a bantam rooster later today. How should I integrate him with the other two? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Put him in a small cage or dog kennel, inside the run, with some food and water. Let them all see-don't-touch and talk to each other for a few days, then you can let him out. Be sure the girls have some obstructions or places to hide, where they can get out of his line-of-sight if needed. My guess is they'll be happy to have him and will squat almost immediately!
 
ashcons

ashcons

Songster
10 Years
Aug 9, 2011
144
179
221
WWW
LapisLazuli said:
I have a small coop (2x4 with a small run) with 2 bantam hens currently in it. I am getting a bantam rooster later today. How should I integrate him with the other two? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Read up on quarantine here. You don't want to throw a bird in there that might be sick without obvious symptoms, that risks you having to cull everyone.

Once you've gotten through quarantine, what I have had success with is getting the new bird next to the current flock and letting them see each other/acclimate for a couple days. When it comes time to mix, throw the new guy in the coop after dark and in the morning, it seems like the birds think "new guy's always been part of the flock."

I do a mini-quarantine of 2 weeks, which isn't best practice, but good enough for government work - doing poop tarot with the new bird and making sure I'm not walking with the same shoes in the new bird's area and the current flock area when going to feed, water, and observe.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

akf93
    • Like
Multiple Roosters
Replies
2
Views
265
GermanKennhuhn
GermanKennhuhn
DuckDuckSook
Integrate new chicks with 4 week old chicks or later with older flock - what's better?
Replies
3
Views
428
HollowOfWisps
HollowOfWisps
urbanhomesteader_shiona
Introducing new chicks
Replies
6
Views
314
urbanhomesteader_shiona
urbanhomesteader_shiona
Pampered chicken girl
    • Like
Serama breeding big girls
Replies
3
Views
187
NatJ
NatJ
9SpiceyChickens
Bantam with Large Fowl hens?
Replies
3
Views
458
9SpiceyChickens
9SpiceyChickens

New posts New threads Active threads

Top Bottom