6 Roosters 6 Hens

[ramridge]

We've been enjoying chicken keeping the last 1.5 years. We decided to add a mama and her chicks to our flock of a few hens which already had 2 Roosters. Both friendly. A Bantum and a dwarf. We also added 3 new pullets a couple months back. It turns out the young "sexed" pullets were not hens but roos; and mama had 3 of 5 roosters. My husband slaughtered a mean rooster in the past and learned to process it and gave it away for food for someone we know. He says he needs to slaughter the other ones to keep our frustrated hens producing. We went from 6 eggs a day to 1. He wants to, I don't. The Roos are beautiful and I don't know how the mama would react, she raised them so lovingly. They are grown and crowing now. We live near the border to Mexico and the feed store would take them,but people may buy to cock fight and they are caged in small cages. Ours free range on 164 linear feet in an electric moveable net and coop on wheels on our large property. They have it good. My friend says it's better they have one bad day and be taken out. Is there any other option? Moved from city to rural 2 years ago. Country girl in making... I want to do the most humane option. Ideas?

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!


You can put them in their own pen or eat them. Too many roosters stress the hens.

 

[ramridge]

We have another chicken net and could make a coop. Would all the roosters together fight each other and be miserable? Now they just fluff their feathers occasionally but don't actually fight. Our Bantum and dwarf never fight each other and are housed together.

 

[ramridge]

My husband doesn't know what the point is of buying feed and caring for 6 roosters when we want eggs....

 

[ramridge]

I think I will try it temporarily though just to give the hens a break until we decide what to do

 

[dekel18042]

Roosters housed together without hens (usually called a bachelor pad) should get along. It's better than having them in with the hens stressing them.

 

[mymilliefleur]

X2 on @dekel18042 advise.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Michael OShay]

Roosters housed together without hens (usually called a bachelor pad) should get along. It's better than having them in with the hens stressing them.

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I agree with dekel18042. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many hens roosters become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching and 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens in this regard. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your rooster problem.

 

[drumstick diva]

A lot of chicken folks feel the same as your husband, paying to feed birds (roosters) that will never lay eggs. They rather have them end up as dinner guests surrounded by vegetables.