Anyone had luck with 2 roos & 5 hens?

[Chicky Pop]

Hey everyone!

So I have a 7 bird flock, 2 of which I believe are most certainly roos but remaining hopeful.
If I donwind up with 2 roos has anyone had success with 2 roos and 5 hens? I know the ratio is far from ideal but I've seen no sort of fighting or even any real assertion of dominance happening within the flock.
I know there is a pecking order but it seems my flock goes together everywhere and gets along like peanut butter and jelly.

The one suspected too is a bearded Belgian D'uccle bantam (not too big yet at least in comparison to the larger hens.)

The other is an OEG Bantam who is tiny and very flighty but neither are aggressive.

I've seen the hens bump chests maybe? But that's about it.


Coming up on 6 weeks of age, I am staying hopeful but would like to know if anyone else has accomplished my goal of keeping them all.

My thought is, so what is the OEG Bantam doesn't get to mate if he remains chill.

The full flock is:
Belgian bearded D'uccle bantam
Old English game bantam

2x black australorps
Buff Orpington
Gold Laced Wyandotte
Amber Sex link

Also, I may or may not be "allowed" to have roosters so that's a thing for another time. First things first see if I can keep them getting along.

 

[Chicky Pop]

FYI, I have been letting them free range throughout the day while I am home but the definitely favor the corner nearest the enclosed run and coop. Although the past two nights they have just slept in the run...
Normal?

 

[nuthatched]

It's up the them, even 1 roo is too much for 3 hens, they'll overbreed.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

2 Roos and 7 Hens, NO GOOD! The hens have taken a beating. Sending the Roos and 3 hens down the road and trying to talk DW in to sending 4 hens. Too many eggs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some people have problems with flocks that have that kind of ratio, some don't. Usually roosters fight when they reach a certain level of maturity. Sometimes roosters fight to the death, sometimes they get along. Once they mature they will know which one is boss. Sometimes they settle this and you never know they fought. Sometimes the fighting is really vicious.

Some people have over-mated hens with ratios much better or much worse than yours. Some don't.

Yours are 6 weeks old, still babies. The boys should hit puberty before the girls. When they (the boys) hit puberty is when you could start seeing problems. When will that happen? I don't know. You are dealing with living animals, no one can tell you for sure. Even as young as 12 weeks is a bit unusual but it could be even younger. Some don't start until 20 weeks or even later. A dominant cockerel can suppress the other for a long time.

I typically suggest you keep as few roosters as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more rosters but the more roosters you have the more likely you are to have problems.

You say you want to keep both. Fine, try to do so. But be aware you may find one injured or dead at some point. And be prepared to isolate one without any notice. Have a place prepared you can put one immediately if you need to. You could save a life.

Your boys are bantam, your girls are full-sized fowl. You can still run into over-mating problems. You may not but it is possible. In your observations you may decide the girls need relief, either from feather loss or harassment. You may need to isolate one or both boys because of that. Often the boys can get along in the same coop/run as long as there are no girls to fight over. We call that a bachelor pad. Often, not always. You just don't get guarantees with this stuff.

The more room they have the better your chances of a happy outcome. Small tight spaces make behavioral problems worse.

Good luck.

 

[LaFleche]

Looking at the picture of your small coop and considering the number of hens, breeds and the fact that roosters might not even be allowed in your community, I think it best to find new homes for the two bantam cockerels as soon as possible before they even start to crow.

And even for the remaining females the coop space will get tight as they grow.

ETA Don't let them spend the night outside in the run as your set-up is not predator proof. The chicken wire can get torn down or bitten through very easily.

How much ventilation does the coop provide?

 

[Chicky Pop]

Looking at the picture of your small coop and considering the number of hens, breeds and the fact that roosters might not even be allowed in your community, I think it best to find new homes for the two bantam cockerels as soon as possible before they even start to crow.

And even for the remaining females the coop space will get tight as they grow.

ETA Don't let them spend the night outside in the run as your set-up is not predator proof. The chicken wire can get torn down or bitten through very easily.

How much ventilation does the coop provide?

Here are photos of the vents/places for the coop to breathe. I was going to hit the TSC animal swap this coming weekend on the 1st of June but I am scheduled to work so won't be able to.

Unless I can convince my lady friend to part with the chickens herself(she's extremely attached and has been asking around for people to take roos with the explicit consent to allow visitation any time she wants.) ill just habr to hold on to them for 4-5 more weeks

I am also trying to see if any family wants to give chickens a go, but if not I'll sell them or give them away at the next swap in July.

I'd like absolute certainty the roos are roos and not prematurely discard them.

They're birds for a purpose but have very quickly grown to be pets.
I know I will have to part with roos and knew that going in but if I have 7/7 Hens, I'll make room and use of the extra attached space on my shed that I haven't been able to figure out what it was for...

Coop is roughly 4'x4'
I extended the run and placed on blocks for additional space/a shaded area. Old tent is covering the run to keep it dry and hopefully not smelly.

I did round up the chicks and make them stay in the coop last night and will do so from here on out. Thank you for the pro tips!
Wanna do the best I can for my little friends.

How's my ventilation look?

Am I crazy for trying to deep litter/bedding in the coop?