Are 2 Roosters too many for 8 hens?

[Mrs. K]

The older hens will really help. They will not put up with any nonsense and will teach them chicken manners.

ON the other hand, you really cannot count the 5 chicks/pullets. None of those birds are ready for roosters, and really will not be ready for several months. The five older gals could probably manage the two roosters, but there is going to be some strife. Just keeping one rooster with them would be best. But they should be removed from the pullets and chicks. They will be very rough on them long before they are ready.

I think I would cull the brown bird, I think he is already giving you the stink eye.

 

[orchardflock]

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.

We are really struggling with this right now. We keep watching our bantams closely (7 hens, 2 roosters) and so far, no damage. I can't believe it, and keep expecting to walk out and see damaged backsides and/or bloody combatants. They are 4.5 months old. My husband is strongly of the opinion that we shouldn't take one out just because sometimes it can go really wrong when it doesn't always. I wanted to put one or both of them in with our 10 big hens and rooster, but a brief trial showed a high likelihood of bloodshed.

 

[cppeace]

Please don't lump all roosters together as human attackers. I've raised many different breeds and had many good roosters. Sure, some roosters can get aggressive- they should be culled(Killed not rehomed) unless from a known aggressive breed. Things like Rocks, Brahmas and Wynadottes should never be human aggressive. If you get one that is they need to never be bred.
Some breeds are just bred more aggressive, usually more flighty breeds or more ranging breeds. Now, any breed can have an aggressive rooster or even hen - it happens, but in general if decently bred, most roosters shouldn't be aggressive towards people.
I was raised with chickens from pretty much birth and hey even experienced aggressive roosters as a 5 years old(It teaches you to be wary of your surroundings, a good life lesson) but would never flat out advise people to not get roosters because they are aggressive.
As long as people follow the guidelines and stop breeding aggressive roosters in breeds that should be docile, there will be very rare aggressive roosters.

 

[temple1612]

Please don't lump all roosters together as human attackers. I've raised many different breeds and had many good roosters. Sure, some roosters can get aggressive- they should be culled(Killed not rehomed) unless from a known aggressive breed. Things like Rocks, Brahmas and Wynadottes should never be human aggressive. If you get one that is they need to never be bred.
Some breeds are just bred more aggressive, usually more flighty breeds or more ranging breeds. Now, any breed can have an aggressive rooster or even hen - it happens, but in general if decently bred, most roosters shouldn't be aggressive towards people.
I was raised with chickens from pretty much birth and hey even experienced aggressive roosters as a 5 years old(It teaches you to be wary of your surroundings, a good life lesson) but would never flat out advise people to not get roosters because they are aggressive.
As long as people follow the guidelines and stop breeding aggressive roosters in breeds that should be docile, there will be very rare aggressive roosters.

Exactly!

 

[Mrs. K]

I don't think this is about human attackers, but rather if it will be hard on 5 birds to have two randy juvenile roosters. I think it will. Her other hens are chicks and very young pullets. It can be very hard on them.

A lot depends on space, and if children are sharing the space. As in a true back yard, or if there is more of a farm setting, where as the coop is a bit of a ways from the house.

Mrs K

 

[chicksonline]

I’m just going to update my comment from earlier
I now have 3 roos for 20 hens this was an accident but they were alright with two but when the third started to mature they had no started to pick on him and push him out so we have found him a new home where he can have 8 girls all to himself. Anyways if you have too many roos the hens will usually give you signs either by not letting any of the cockerels do there job or picking on one of the cockerels

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We suspect we have 2 roosters that are 11 weeks old.... 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?

Roosters are like men. Some roosters will be happy with only one or two hens who will even talk to them, while other roosters would feel put upon if they had a harem of 50 hens.

The rooster that you need to cull is the shrinking violet bird.
Cull in this case means that you are not allowing him to breed.