Adding a trio to a flock

[BTinks]

Hi everyone,

I have a first time flock of 29 pullets and six cockerels between the ages of 14 and 17 weeks. I will be sending two of the roosters to freezer camp soon and rehoming one so ultimately I will have three Roos and 29 hens. I found a really nice trio of 1 year old Cochins locally and want to go get them to add to my flock, but then I read this great article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

It recommends not adding roosters to a flock that already has some. I am just wondering, is that really a hard/fast rule? Has anyone ever added a trio like this to a flock that has roosters already? Is it at all possible or should I just get the hens? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated since I am relatively new to chicken keeping and have not added adult birds to my flock before.

 

[Den in Penn]

You already have six cockerels just coming into their hormones. The number of hens you have is low to the number of roosters now, adding one rooster and two hens isn't going to help that. If you are not going to breed the cochins pure then the cochin rooster is unnecessary. To answer the question if you can add another rooster. Yes you can if you have the right conditions, one of them is the ratio of hens to roosters, another is a large enough space and the roosters personality. There is some flex to those conditions. In you case I would put off getting another rooster. I don't know the space you have and the cockerels are just beginning to form their personalities. You may well have you hands full with the ones you have.

 

[BTinks]

You already have six cockerels just coming into their hormones.  The number of hens you have is low to the number of roosters now, adding one rooster and two hens isn't going to help that.  If you are not going to breed the cochins pure then the cochin rooster is unnecessary.  To answer the question if you can add another rooster.  Yes you can if you have the right conditions, one of them is the ratio of hens to roosters, another is a large enough space and the roosters personality.  There is some flex to those conditions.  In you case I would put off getting another rooster.  I don't know the space you have and the cockerels are just beginning to form their personalities.  You may well have you hands full with the ones you have.

Thanks for the response! I got some feedback from my local thread also and after my DH and I discussed it we decided to get the new birds(ended up being three hens and a roo). Since we have to quarantine the newbies anyway, by the time we introduce them to our flock we will have only two other roosters. Three of our Roos are going to freezer camp in a couple weeks and one will either be rehomed or sent to freezer camp as well. So we are thinking that adding one rooster and three hens to a flock of two roosters and 29 hens should be doable if we take it slow.

 

[Den in Penn]

Sounds like a solid plan.