1 or more "old roosters" :somad

[farrier!]

I really would like to free range my pullets. I am working on the chicken house now.
I have visions of the pullets being free food for everything.
There is a within driving distance farmer with free free range roosters. Is it worth getting some older knowlegable birds?
Will they protect all the pullets?
How many roosters for 40+ pullets?
How long do they all need to be in the chicken house before letting them out?
The free roosters are a choice of 7 months, 9 months and a 1 1/2 yr old. The 1 1/2 year old is the "boss" of her flock and is full feathered and not pecked on. Would he be the best choice?

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

We researched how many roosters per pullet and found that most people recommend one rooster for every 10-12 pullets.

 

[Lollipop]

The older guy would be my first choice. You didn`t specify breeds, or if you want to breed them. Your choice on the others. I realize 10/1 is optimum, but that`s for breeding purposes. If you just want a roo to protect your pullets, you have to be aware most roosters merely sound an alarm for hawks and such. While they do tend to keep the girls from straying, they also are no help at all when most predators attack, that being at night. I love roosters. I`m guilty of keeping more roosters than hens, but my birds are gamefowl and must be isolated from others. Just trying to give you an honest look at what roosters are good for. The protection factor is there, but has it`s limits. Stories about roosters fighting hawks, dogs, foxes, may be true, but those brave ones are few and far between. They don`t call them chickens for nothing. And just so you know, go observe the boys and see what their temperments are like. Most roosters aren`t mean, but there sure are a lot of stories about mean ones on BYC. Most of those accounts start out by telling us how kind the roosters were treated, like a member of the family, so to speak. My opinion is, treat them kindly, but don`t go overboard. Make sure there is no doubt in his mind that you are the boss......Pop

Edit: almost forgot. Keep them penned for two nights before you let them out.

 

[silkiechicken]

It's going to depend on how much "protection" a rooster will give. My big boy runs with the hens to get away from any danger, and the only thing that has ever attacked an attacker (hawlk) was a broody mother hen.

Regardless of how many roosters you end up with, they may or may not watch out for the whole flock, and the risks of free range are probably about 99% the same without one.

Remember to quarantine any new birds for a month because each flock has it's own dynamics and even though both can be healthy, mixing them can introduce pests and disease which can affect the ones not yet immune.

 

[cmom]

I gave my Roosters away. I have one hen in particular that is more of a protector than the Roosters were and I'm not interested in hatching any eggs. All I ever really wanted was eggs and I don't need a rooster for that. I did have a neighborhood dog kill one of my hens. I now have an electric fence around their yard. I had a possum once try to get under the fence until it made contact with the wire.

 

[farrier!]

Thanks everyone!
My biggest worry is hawks during the day. My neighbor (1/2 mile away) lost all of his birds to hawks.

I will be attempting to lock them all up safely in the coop at night. My other main worry is that they decide they will not come in.

 

[Lollipop]

farrier! :

Thanks everyone!
My biggest worry is hawks during the day. My neighbor (1/2 mile away) lost all of his birds to hawks.

I will be attempting to lock them all up safely in the coop at night. My other main worry is that they decide they will not come in.

Roosters work well to keep a lookout for hawks. If they decide to not go in at night, lock them in for a few days. That usually reinforces the "where to roost" question........Pop​

 

[Chickenaddict]

I agree with pop and would go with the older roo.
I free range my bantams all day every day. The area I live is right across the street from a lake with a wild life refuge not far away so lots of predators around here as well as hunting dogs

In the 4 years we have had chickens I have only lost 1 to a predator. The roosters are excellent on sounding the alarm even if its just a crow or small bird flying over the house. I have been very fortunate to have only lost 1 bird and I know it's always a possibility but they are sooo much more happier running free and it saves ALOT on feed in the warmer months.

ETA for 40 hens i think 2-3 roosters would be enough. Maybe start out with 2 and go from there

 

[farrier!]

After talking to the woman she was so happy we would take her older roo who she had raised and another one. She even said she would keep them back if anyone came for all of the free roos.
I got an email....she got rid of all of them!!!!

So much for caring if they had a home or where supper.....

It is not the fact that they went to someones freezer, it's her telling me how happy she was about some not then lying and not doing what she said she would!