adding hens to a flock with two roosters

[Talithahorse]

I currently have a small flock which has two roosters and only 4 hens. The roosters are brothers and have gotten along so far. I want to add more hens to the flock so that the boys can stay together (and be happy). Is there anything special I should do or be aware of so that I don't upset the Rooster balance (the dominant rooster has claimed three hens, and left one hen to the subordinate rooster). Everyone has been in sight of each other and will be moving the pullets tractor into the pen so that they can get all sides around to talk through the fence.

 

[Den in Penn]

More hens which you are doing will quiet things down. However if you start crowding them in things can heat up. Space enough for everyone is important.

 

[Mrs. K]

Space is crucial, measure how much space you have. A lot of times people think that if they free range they can cheat on coop space. That is mostly true in the summer. However, in the winter, chickens spend the darkness (14 hours) roosted up.

MOST problems with chicken behavior comes with space. And what is so sneaky about it, is what seems like more than enough space when they are little, rapidly gets too small as they are near full grown birds.

Mrs K

ps. A couple of points to consider:
2 roosters should be covering about 20 head of hens. I have had 2 roosters with less hens, but it was a father/son relationship, and that helped. Two teenage roosters are going to be very hormonal, and pretty aggressively mating the hens.

Roosters can get along today, and fight bloody tomorrow.

 

[Talithahorse]

I have a converted horse stall (10X 14) for the coop and a big run (approx 40' X 80') plus another paddock that I can extend into if needed. If they get to where they are not getting along I can separate but I am trying to keep my number of pens to a minimum for my base flocks. There is not enough space for 20 hens (IMO) and if one of them has to go, then he has to go but... so long as they are getting along, then I will try to keep them together. I figured that adding to the ladies (getting closer to the 20) wouldn't hurt but wanted to make sure I won't agitate the balance by adding hens.

BTW... so far there have been no problems with the boys. The nondominant one and his hen spend the day together and the dominant Rooster and his hens tend to hang out in slightly different areas. When they feed together, there is not gesturing between the boys and the other than an occasional glare from the dominant roo, which sends the submissive roo out of the way, they seem to have reached an understanding.

My question is "Is it better to leave well enough alone, knowing that typically you need about 20 hens for 2 roosters, since it is currently working, or is it better to disrupt the flock to get it closer to ideal for the number of roosters knowing that there is NOT space for the ideal number.

 

[aart]

If you get enough eggs from the hens you have, the boys are getting along and you don't really have room for 'enough' hens, leave it be for now.

But.....How old are the roosters and existing hens?

Adding birds to a flock is almost always disruptive, how disruptive can range from mild pecking and chasing to all out bloody and fatal warfare.
Adding hens might cause fighting between the now seemingly peaceful cohabitation of 2 males.