Are 2 Roosters too many for 8 hens?

[temple1612]

We suspect we have 2 roosters that are 11 weeks old. If they are both roosters 1 is definitely more dominate than the other. Are 2 roosters too many for 8 hens? If we re-homed the more dominate rooster would the other rooster take charge and lead the flock?

 

[AlleysChicks]

2 is too many for 8 ladies. You may actually need to add a few girls depending on how active the boy is. They can do a good bit of damage to the females if they over mate them.

 

[temple1612]

2 is too many for 8 ladies. You may actually need to add a few girls depending on how active the boy is. They can do a good bit of damage to the females if they over mate them.

Okay. If I got re-homed the more dominate one (the Barred Rock) would the other roo (RIR mix) become the lead guy?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Okay. If I got re-homed the more dominate one (the Barred Rock) would the other roo (RIR mix) become the lead guy?

Yes. When you remove the dominant one the less dominant will be in charge. He may have to adjust to the role though.

 

[chicksonline]

We have 18 hens and no rooster but one very dominant female (with spurs) but 2 roosters is too many for anything under 20! You can either add more females to your flock or remove one of the roosters

 

[aart]

How many males for how many females is not a hard number carved in stone.....
.....it depends on the individual birds demeanor's and the housing/space available.
Many breeder keep pairs, trios, quads, etc.
Multiple males is tricky due to the competition factor,
often bringing out the worst of all their behaviors.

Young cockerel(s) can be a PITA as they become sexually mature(~4mos) before the pullets(~6mos)....but again can depend on the bird.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, 2 roosters is too many roosters for 8 chickens, and it is WAY to much rooster for 8 pullets.
Is this your first time with chickens? Are all the birds in the flock the same age? Because when you start a flock, the rooster chicks will out grow and sexually mature long before the pullets are ready. Because they are bigger, they often become bullies to get their way. They can be very aggressive to people too. If that is the situation, I strongly recommend culling both birds, and wait till next year to add a rooster.

If you have small children, under the age of 5, I HIGHLY, STRONGLY recommend getting rid of both roosters. They tend to attack children first, under the age of 5, they are attack at face level. Then they attack women, and lastly men. Perhaps not all of them, but if it is your first year with chickens you might not recognize the signs until a full blown attack. You have years to have this hobby, take it one step at a time.

 

[temple1612]

Yes, 2 roosters is too many roosters for 8 chickens, and it is WAY to much rooster for 8 pullets.
Is this your first time with chickens? Are all the birds in the flock the same age? Because when you start a flock, the rooster chicks will out grow and sexually mature long before the pullets are ready. Because they are bigger, they often become bullies to get their way. They can be very aggressive to people too. If that is the situation, I strongly recommend culling both birds, and wait till next year to add a rooster.

If you have small children, under the age of 5, I HIGHLY, STRONGLY recommend getting rid of both roosters. They tend to attack children first, under the age of 5, they are attack at face level. Then they attack women, and lastly men. Perhaps not all of them, but if it is your first year with chickens you might not recognize the signs until a full blown attack. You have years to have this hobby, take it one step at a time.

5 of the hens I have are between 2-4 years old so I don't think there will be a problem there. I actually have 10 hens. I have 5 over the age of 2, two 11.5 weeks old, and 3 that are 3 weeks old.

I am not new to chicken raising, but am new to Roosters. However, I am not worried about either one of these roos being aggressive towards us. They are actually the most friendly of all the chickens I have.

 

[aart]

However, I am not worried about either one of these roos being aggressive towards us. They are actually the most friendly of all the chickens I have.

They usually are....until the hormones kick in.
That 'friendliness' is a familiarity that will breed contempt down the road.
I stop handling cockerels as much once they reach about 8 weeks old,
they need to stay away from me and out of my space unless invited to hand feed.

 

[temple1612]

They usually are....until the hormones kick in.
That 'friendliness' is a familiarity that will breed contempt down the road.
I stop handling cockerels as much once they reach about 8 weeks old,
they need to stay away from me and out of my space unless invited to hand feed.

They definitely know I am at the top of the pecking order, and their hormones have definitely already started kicking in. My Barred Rock mix has been mounting everything already. I know roosters can be friendly if you raise them to be. Roosters will attack you if they feel they are higher on the pecking order than you.