Bachelor pad? Rooster housing question

[Fly Fisher]

Some things to think about before making the jump to individual housing for roosters. Most important is your end goal. For example New Breeder and I have a similar goals of turning out one individual high quality genetic hackle feather. Others may be looking for nothing more than being able to breed specific lines true without the issues of unwanted fertilization taking place.

Each person has to look at their goals and decide if making the investment in individual housing is for them.

If you do decide to make the jump here are a few things to consider.

First, consistency is the most important factor. All pens / cages must be the same. Same construction, dimensions and feeding system. The location should be the same, Lighting, climate, ventilation, etc. Maintenance should be the same. All birds should have non stop clean water and the same amount of daily food ration at the same time daily.

Through this method you can truly judge the merits of a birds genetics and potential as a breeder in your flock.

Outside these paramaters you simply cannot. An example would be the natural pecking order in a flock. There is no guarantee that every bird will get the same nutrition in fact it is a pretty much a given that they won't. This is compounded when several breeds are raised together. Many breeds are quick to mature while others have slow growth genes. It is concievable that in a mixed flock the larger more aggressive birds could keep the slow growers from ever reaching true potential. This is a top reason why breeders who focus on one or two breeds reach and maintain high quality fairly quickly.

Fly

 

[winkle1234]

I had my 50 straight run chicks all in one pen until seven weeks when the fighting became an issue. Once I put most (three remained with 26 pullets) of the cockerels into a pen by themselves and out of sight of the pullets the fighting stopped except for an occasional pecking order fight. The bachelor pad was quickly built as I was not planning to separate for a few more weeks. This year I will be trying out a PVC chicken tractor as a bachelor pad to cut down on the need for having to keep additional coops clean since I will be able to move the pen everyday or few days to a clean area of pasture.

 

[CristinaB]

The good news is that roosters do not require nearly as much housing as a hen. You need not provide nesting boxes, just a nice cozy perch that is predator proof and a run area that is large enough to give them a place to run and play.