Are 50% of my pullets actually cockerels?! (RIR, BR and BLR Wyandotte)

[CarolinaHen]

I have three cockerels that were raised together. They disagree on occasion, but mostly are best buddies and stay together. They each have their own hens and only squabble if one tries to "flirt" with another's girl.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

Really? CarolinaHen, How many hens do you have?

Ours are getting along really well now, but they are only 8-9 weeks old. Actually the only ones that have fought is our biggest hen and the Barred Rock cockerel, but I think it's a pecking order thing. It hasn't gotten too nasty yet.

 

[CarolinaHen]

We have two Cochin roosters, a Sebright rooster, and 5 hens. Pretty close to being even. Each of the boys has his own girl. One girl is "loose" and flits from one to the other, and the fifth girl doesn't want anything to do with any of the guys. She just wants to lay and sit on eggs.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

haha. Well that is pretty great that they all work well together! I'd love to be able to keep them all.

I might keep them for awhile and see how they do. Like I said, no squabbles yet, but I know they are still young. The moveable chicken tractor we've built is a two story design, with an 8 foot by 8 foot run underneath. I know the rule of thumb is 10 feet per chicken, but I wonder if I got a couple more hens, if it would help out the ratios and the fighting?

 

[CarolinaHen]

My flock has a 10x60 yard and all share a 4x8 coop. Of course, that means that they all sleep on the same roost and use the same neat box :/

 

[CarolinaHen]

nest, not neat

 

[donrae]

If you're bound to keep the cockerels I'd suggest a bachelor pad for them. Three roosters in puberty are going to be VERY rough on young hens, and you'd need a lot of hens to spread the love. Of course, they're your animals and you can always try it, but keep a close eye out for rooster damage to the hens, or persistent resistance to mating, any other behavior problems.

You'll need a lot more space than the minimum recommendation, also.

 

[CarolinaHen]

I think that the reason mine all get along is because the three roos were raised together and the pen is so large. Plus, two are Cochins. They love everyone

 

[BorderBrigade]

I agree one or two hens to a roo is hard and stressful to the hen eventually someone will end up with a bald back. A bachelor area is your best option. Sorry but my one roo is a huge cochin cockerel and even with 8 hens to himself and 6 acres to roam he is alway picking out a favorite hen that he can't get enough of.

 

[CarolinaHen]

I'm glad my guys are exceptions to the rule. They are all bantams and the hens are all LF.