Ann-without-an-e
In the Brooder
- Nov 28, 2023
- 3
- 5
- 14
We have 9 older hens (6 Isa Browns and 3 Barred Rocks). The older flock's rooster died about 6 months ago.
In August we got 13 chicks that were supposed to be all females. We didn't really want another rooster (the first one was an accident). Somehow we managed to get 4 roosters in this new batch. One is being a bit of a jerk (pulling feathers out constantly and eating them?) and the other three are super sweet so far. The new birds are only 15 weeks. If it matters, this new set has Bielefelders, Cream Legbars, Prairie Bluebell Eggers, and Barred rocks. We have a large coop and run with a separation for new birds, sick birds, etc. (ETA: We are planning to build a pasture in the next few months, we can't free range because of predators.) The younger ones have been in the same space since they moved outdoors at 6 weeks, but separated. We've been trying to integrate them into the same space for a week. We started by switching their places (old hens into the smaller space), so the younger birds could explore the larger section without stress. We started with just 30 monitored minutes a day combined. Now we're trying it from morning until later afternoon (to give our small birds a break from the stress). These younger birds are just super shy and not aggressive enough to stand up for themselves. My older birds kept them pushed to one corner of the run for the first two days and then my younger birds took to just hiding in the coop all day long. That is why I've been separating them out again in the afternoon, to give them a break to eat and drink water freely without stress.
What else can I do to help this situation? I don't want my younger birds to be stressed all the time.
I also feel like 4 roosters will be too many? At what age should we remove some from the flock? Our last rooster was awful. I just won't tolerate that again. The first time one of these roosters runs at me and tries to attack me, he's gone. I can't do that again. Right now they are all super sweet with people and only one is a bit peckish with the girls. Not the older hens, they won't have any of that (haha).
Thanks for any thoughts on this dynamic.
In August we got 13 chicks that were supposed to be all females. We didn't really want another rooster (the first one was an accident). Somehow we managed to get 4 roosters in this new batch. One is being a bit of a jerk (pulling feathers out constantly and eating them?) and the other three are super sweet so far. The new birds are only 15 weeks. If it matters, this new set has Bielefelders, Cream Legbars, Prairie Bluebell Eggers, and Barred rocks. We have a large coop and run with a separation for new birds, sick birds, etc. (ETA: We are planning to build a pasture in the next few months, we can't free range because of predators.) The younger ones have been in the same space since they moved outdoors at 6 weeks, but separated. We've been trying to integrate them into the same space for a week. We started by switching their places (old hens into the smaller space), so the younger birds could explore the larger section without stress. We started with just 30 monitored minutes a day combined. Now we're trying it from morning until later afternoon (to give our small birds a break from the stress). These younger birds are just super shy and not aggressive enough to stand up for themselves. My older birds kept them pushed to one corner of the run for the first two days and then my younger birds took to just hiding in the coop all day long. That is why I've been separating them out again in the afternoon, to give them a break to eat and drink water freely without stress.
What else can I do to help this situation? I don't want my younger birds to be stressed all the time.
I also feel like 4 roosters will be too many? At what age should we remove some from the flock? Our last rooster was awful. I just won't tolerate that again. The first time one of these roosters runs at me and tries to attack me, he's gone. I can't do that again. Right now they are all super sweet with people and only one is a bit peckish with the girls. Not the older hens, they won't have any of that (haha).
Thanks for any thoughts on this dynamic.
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Integration takes time. Continue on as you have been. As the young birds mature they will gradually join the flock. I would remove the cockerel that is feather pecking/plucking. This can become a bad habit that the rest of the flock starts to imitate. As the other cockerels mature make your choice on behavior towards you and the flock.
