At what age do I need to start thinking about getting rid of one roo?

[Guernica]

I'll be honest, I got 3 straight run Buff Orpington chicks operating on the assumption that one of them would die. I have 2 roos and a little hen. They grew up together from date of hatch, they snuggle up together at night, and they seem, at 3 weeks, to have their hierarchy pretty well sorted out.

So at what age do I need to start thinking of getting rid of one? Should I just wait until they're grown and see how the land lies at that point?

Sadly I *will* have to get rid of one at some point. My hutch was sold to me as big enough for 4 chickens but I don't think it really is; given the size Buff Orpingtons grow into, I think 3 would be pushing it and 4 would definitely be overcrowded! Sure do wish I had one more little hen though!

Thanks for any experience & feedback!

 

[bobbi-j]

If your hutch is that small, I'd get rid of one ASAP if you can find it a home. Or, you could build or buy a proper chicken coop that they will be able to spend time in in bad weather without going stir crazy, and then you could have more hens! (I may or may not be a chicken math enabler

)

 

[Violetsrblu]

The only breed of roos I've raised are Silkies. My 1st purchase of four straight run chicks ended up being 3 boys and 1 girl. They all got along wonderfully, but I knew the day would come when adolescent hormones would shake up their world. I decided to wait until it happened, around 5-6 mos of age. Luckily, it was easy for me to find new homes for the two extra boys.