Any advice?

[familyfarm1]

I'll try to make it short and sweet. We have nine hens and one rooster. The rooster, Zorro

, is a gentleman to all of his ladies. Well this spring we got ten more chicks from TSC, four SLW and six RIR pullets. needless to say two of the four SLW are boys, and although Zorro keeps them in check, will the hens be ok with the roo ratio? Zorro will not let the young roos mount any of the hens (if he sees them try he'll bull them over

). any thoughts?

 

[1muttsfan]

Nope. Too many roosters in the henhouse - they will eventually cause trouble, and you do not have enough hens. You could pen them separately if you really want to keep them.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You'll need to either build a bachelor pad for the extra roosters or re-home/butcher them.

 

[jtn42248]

3 roos and 17hens probably won't work. Unless you can house then with their own hens you should get it down to one roo. I have two roos with 22 hens and the only
Reason it works is the second too developed late and the first too had already established himself. Now if too two trys anything too one just steps toward him and he takes off.

 

[jtn42248]

3 roos and 17hens probably won't work. Unless you can house then with their own hens you should get it down to one roo. I have two roos with 22 hens and the only
Reason it works is the second too developed late and the first too had already established himself. Now if too two trys anything too one just steps toward him and he takes off.

Most of those too's should read roo. I am using a new tablet and it spell checks funny....sorry

 

[familyfarm1]

ok, thank you!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've kept two roosters with only 6 hens. They were brothers raised together and that helps. Far too few hens in my case so had some bare backs. Culled the more aggressive one eventually. I don't see why you can't keep two roosters with 17 females. It's a good ratio. Best chance of it working out would probably be keeping the two young cockerels that have been raised together.

 

[jtn42248]

I've kept two roosters with only 6 hens. They were brothers raised together and that helps. Far too few hens in my case so had some bare backs. Culled the more aggressive one eventually. I don't see why you can't keep two roosters with 17 females. It's a good ratio. Best chance of it working out would probably be keeping the two young cockerels that have been raised together.

My two were raised together...in fact the Dominique roo was the "free rare breed" in my order. I think that is why we have had a little conflict as we have. That and the fact that I thought the Dom was just a psycho hen at first...he matured later that my Andalusian roo. Fortunately I am not trying to breed the chickens. God only knows what mixes we would end up with.

 

[familyfarm1]

Thank so much! I thought that since the younger two were Brothers that they would be alright. oh well, we'll see. thanks again!