How to reintegrate rooster that I rehomed?

[wildgreen]

I rehomed my rooster a few months ago to some friends after he got aggressive with my toddler. He was with a flock of eight hens, and he was really respectful of the ladies and overall great at his job. We recently built my hens a large run in a portion of our yard (they were free ranging before which is why we had to give my rooster away) and we are going to get him back since he won’t be a threat to my toddler anymore. My question is, can I just integrate him right in or should I do some kind of re-introduction? It’s all the same hens that he grew up with until we gave him away plus one more. Like I said, it’s been a few months now and we gave him away at 5 months old, so he’s spent more than half of his life with our hens. He has spent the past three months basically by himself - there is another rooster and two hens there and he stays away from them and apparently doesn’t even sleep in the coop at night.

 

[ChicNmom]

I would still do the look no touch method. Separate him within sight of the ladies and see how they react. Then supervised time together.

 

[wildgreen]

I would still do the look no touch method. Separate him within sight of the ladies and see how they react. Then supervised time together.

Thanks! Is the worry that he’d be too aggressive or that the ladies would gang up on him? I added one adult hen to my flock about a month ago and just put her in with all the others right away. There was some bullying for a few days but after that they’ve all been getting along great.

 

[The Moonshiner]

If you're not worried about quarantining him I'd just put him with them and go from there but that just may be me.

 

[ChicNmom]

Thanks! Is the worry that he’d be too aggressive or that the ladies would gang up on him? I added one adult hen to my flock about a month ago and just put her in with all the others right away. There was some bullying for a few days but after that they’ve all been getting along great.

Both. Just for a day or two. I just think it makes for a more peaceful transition. But I don't mind when the young rooster gets etiquette lessons from the ladies.