Introducing a Rooster to Hens

Reader Contribution by Vicki Mattern
article image
by Adobe Stock/Alexandr Vasilyev

Keeping roosters with laying hens is beneficial but must be done carefully. Here are some tips for introducing a rooster to hens.

Keeping roosters with your laying hens is beneficial for several reasons. A rooster will act as caretaker, keeping the flock together and protecting it from predators when the hens roam outside the coop. With a rooster in charge, bossy hens will become more mellow. Keeping a rooster also means you’ll have fertile eggs from which you can raise chicks if you’d like (read Raise Your Best Flock Using Broody Hens).

Whether you’re introducing a rooster to hens, the process is essentially the same, says Harvey Ussery, author of The Small-Scale Poultry Flock. When introducing a rooster to hens, do it with the poultry flock at midday inside a large, enclosed space that provides plenty of room for the rooster to retreat if attacked. Then, monitor the rooster and hens’ behavior.

“Expect some sparring initially,” Ussery says. “In my experience, this is not much cause for concern. There will be a hazing period until the hens find their places in the new hierarchy. Within a short time, the hens will naturally accept him.”

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368