3 roosters with 1 hen

[Chicken Whisper101]

I currently have 3 roosters and 1 hen.They all have grown up together since they were babies.They are all grown now and they are 4 months. I don't know if I need to sell my roosters because they will kill one another. I'm thinking about selling them and order some hens.

 

[MageofMist]

With the small ratio, there is a largely increased chance of fighting and that the hen will be over-mated by the boys, normally the suggested ratio is 10 hens per 1 roo, though I have 3 boys and 9 hens who all grew up together and are related and other than the occasional scuffle, they get along fine and all snuggle together at night.

So it would be best to sell the extra boys to prevent some serious bird drama from kicking off and ordering some hens. Just make sure to isolate the new girls from your existing birds first so no diseases can spread if they have them, and that they are introduced properly.

If they are laying hens, they tend to be a tad aggressive towards those who aren't laying yet and young boys, though things usually smoothen out over time from my experience.

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

With the small ratio, there is a largely increased chance of fighting and that the hen will be over-mated by the boys, normally the suggested ratio is 10 hens per 1 roo, though I have 3 boys and 9 hens who all grew up together and are related and other than the occasional scuffle, they get along fine and all snuggle together at night.

So it would be best to sell the extra boys to prevent some serious bird drama from kicking off and ordering some hens. Just make sure to isolate the new girls from your existing birds first so no diseases can spread if they have them, and that they are introduced properly.

If they are laying hens, they tend to be a tad aggressive towards those who aren't laying yet and young boys, though things usually smoothen out over time from my experience.

If I order some girls how could I introduce them to the flock? Wont they pick on the other birds.

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

I have done two things. I have put the new chickens in a wire dog kennel inside my coop. for a few days... Or Put them in at night when everybody is sleeping. I also think that your rooster ratio is too high. I only have one rooster "Bob" for 13 hens in one coop and his son "Bob Jr" in another coop with 4 hens.

 

[MageofMist]

If I order some girls how could I introduce them to the flock? Wont they pick on the other birds.

It is very likely that they will bully the other birds, many people use dog crates to keep the birds separate but able to see one-another to aid in the introduction process and letting them out when supervised if there is enough room for the youngsters to run if a bully harasses them. The boy may get pecked and chased off when he tries trying to mount and flirting with the older girls, though that is natural and they will accept him once he is older.

The young pullet will also likely be bullied by the others until she starts laying eggs herself, then they suddenly will accept her into their ranks. At least that is my experience with having brooder-raised one batch of chicks and had a hen raise the second batch, both cases were like that.
They went from pecking and chasing the youngsters to letting them on the perch and snuggling with them the moment they hit the point of lay.

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

It is very likely that they will bully the other birds, many people use dog crates to keep the birds separate but able to see one-another to aid in the introduction process and letting them out when supervised if there is enough room for the youngsters to run if a bully harasses them. The boy may get pecked and chased off when he tries trying to mount and flirting with the older girls, though that is natural and they will accept him once he is older.

The young pullet will also likely be bullied by the others until she starts laying eggs herself, then they suddenly will accept her into their ranks. At least that is my experience with having brooder-raised one batch of chicks and had a hen raise the second batch, both cases were like that.
They went from pecking and chasing the youngsters to letting them on the perch and snuggling with them the moment they hit the point of lay.

Thank you! really helps a lot

 

[featheredplanets]

Ratio is too high. For three cockerels, I would have no less than thirty hens. Do you need three cockerels in the same pen? Even if you have ten hens, they’ll be seriously overbred by three mature cockerels. I would split them or give two away, you could have a minimum of 6/8 hens per cockerel that way.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-i-integrated-my-chickens-in-2-weeks.73370/
Article on chicken intergration

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

Ratio is too high. For three cockerels, I would have no less than thirty hens. Do you need three cockerels in the same pen? Even if you have ten hens, they’ll be seriously overbred by three mature cockerels. I would split them or give two away, you could have a minimum of 6/8 hens per cockerel that way.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-i-integrated-my-chickens-in-2-weeks.73370/
Article on chicken intergration

I all have them in the same pin ,but i going to sell them because I have no where else to put them.

 

[MageofMist]

Ratio is too high. For three cockerels, I would have no less than thirty hens. Do you need three cockerels in the same pen? Even if you have ten hens, they’ll be seriously overbred by three mature cockerels. I would split them or give two away, you could have a minimum of 6/8 hens per cockerel that way.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-i-integrated-my-chickens-in-2-weeks.73370/
Article on chicken intergration

My birds are Silkies who are a more docile breed, and funnily enough the three roos keep each-other in check. If one roo gets a tad too excited and tries to force himself on a hen who isn't interested, he has two others running up to him and scaring him off and they don't try and mount the hen. They are fine if a roo does a wing-dance and mounts a willing hen. The forcing is actually rare in my flock, normally the boys back down if a hen shows no interest in their dances.

The hens have fully feathered backs and no signs of being over-bred and actually get stressed out if separated from the boys too long. I let the hens out first in the mornings, and the hens will start whining at the door and then run in and squat by the boys to be mated... And then just... Go back outside to continue pecking about.

 

[aart]

I currently have 3 roosters and 1 hen.They all have grown up together since they were babies.They are all grown now and they are 4 months. I don't know if I need to sell my roosters because they will kill one another. I'm thinking about selling them and order some hens.

You have 3 cockerels and 1 pullet(not cocks and hens until one year of age), at 4 months they are far from grown, but those boys will soon becoming sexually mature and start fighting and trying to mate with the pullet.

I'd strongly suggest that you find a way to separate the males asap...
...when it gets ugly, it happens fast and the pullet could easily be injured.
How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
Any chance you can put up a temporary wall for separation?
Pics would help us help you.

Adding new birds can be tricky....lots of space, separate but adjacent space works best.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock