Chicken maths is real, but this is too much I think!

[thecoffeewasthething]

After we lost a hen during the summer, we decided to add to our tiny flock of 2 a few weeks ago. Integrating them has been challenging, but doable, but it turns out one of my growers isn't female after all. :( We already got a bantam roo with the new girls, and don't have the space or ability to take on another rooster, so I'm having to take him back to the farmer we bought him from. The farmer has offered to swap him for a hen, but I can't face the integration process again this year!

We had an established flock of 2 bog-standard warrens, then added (what we thought was) 3 female growers (welsummer, blue andalusian, and now a male leghorn) and a Dutch bantam rooster. Them being smaller than our warrens has been tricky, the two girls are very dominant and the bantam roo is more scared of them than the baby pullets are...

Over the past few weeks I've been suspicious of the leghorn being a male from observing various interactions between the leghorn and the bantam, but over the weekend I saw them squaring off to each other quite flamboyantly and it's left no doubt in my mind now.

The thought of swapping leghorn boy over for a couple of females and then having 3 separate flocks that aren't fully integrated doesn't exactly fill me with joy. But I'm SO disappointed this roo isn't a hen.

Not sure the point of this thread, just having a moan I guess! I think in the spring I'll get a few different breeds so we have a multi-coloured range of eggs. I might not be so exhausted by the thought of the integration process by then, either. I'm hoping our bantam rooster will find his confidence by then, too. One of the reasons for getting him was to keep the flock from bullying newcomers!

Yes I would - it all seems much easier in the spring than this time of year, and hopefully by then all your existing chickens will be settled. Plus I don’t know what your set up is like but if we have to enclose them this winter for bird flu, it gets trickier with integrations. We’re down to 3 at the moment but I think we’ll wait until spring now.

It sounds like you’ve had quite the adventure with your flock! Integrating new birds can be such a challenge, especially when personalities and dynamics are all over the place. It’s always frustrating when a “hen” surprises you by being a rooster—those unexpected curveballs are just part of the joys (and headaches) of chicken keeping.
Swapping the leghorn boy for a hen sounds practical, but I completely get the hesitation about another round of integration this year. It’s exhausting trying to keep the peace and balance pecking orders! Waiting until spring and then going for a mix of breeds for that colorful egg basket sounds like a great plan, though—it’ll give you time to recharge and let the flock settle.
Hopefully, your bantam rooster gains confidence soon! Sometimes they just need a bit of time to grow into their role. Hang in there—it sounds like you’re doing a great job managing a tricky situation! 😊

Thank you! Things have settled these days, although they still are more like 2 mini flocks rather than one big one, at least the originals aren't out-and-out attacking the younglings anymore. The new pullets should start laying in the spring, so we're thinking of seeing how we get on with 4 eggs a day before considering adding more - we'll be overrun with eggs if we aren't careful!

Sounds Good!!!

I would keep the bantam cock if he's friendly. He should grow into his role as he matures. They tend to be fiercely protective of their hens and should keep the peace. It's a rooster's job to sort the pecking order. You should be able to have just the one flock if you have a male in the mix. You only need to split the flock if you are breeding.

If you still get trouble with the warrens, I found that temporarily separating the troublesome ones from each other and then reintroducing them at different times to the rest resets things.

If you can find some, Red Sussex are lovely birds. Can also recommend Faverolles if you don't have boggy land.

Oh we're definitely keeping him, he's a ridiculous (and slightly dim) sweetheart.