Balance

A lot depends on the purpose of of your flock.
A rooster lets you make baby chicks on your own, which is more predictable when they are all one breed, and less predictable if they aren't.
Whether or not they are a mix of breeds, you could choose to keep all roosters, caging the extras separately, or separating your flock into three flocks with a rooster at the head of each.
A breeder whose flock had three roosters would probably keep three flocks, select the best from each, rehome or cull or eat the ones they don't want to keep.
If you have no rooster, you won't be able to keep your flock going to the next generation. If you have only one rooster and something happens to him, you won't be able to keep your flock going to the next generation. Extra roosters are insurance, in this case.
But it all depends on your purpose. If you want eggs and no drama, then go ahead and trade off, sell, re-home, eat or cull the roosters.

BTW, my Missouri State Fair-winning rooster a couple of years ago was somebody's spare rooster advertised on Craigslist before he became my Bearded Buff Laced Polish flock daddy. He is not friendly to people, and I think that's why he ended up on Craigslist. He has six hens, who also show, because he doesn't wear the feathers off their backs and heads, behavior that is somewhat dependant on breed, environment, and individual personality. Now he has four offspring with blue ribbons, several with second and third place, and his hatching eggs bring me $30/dozen. I only sell a few dozen a year, but it pays for almost all of the flock's feed.
 
How old are the males?

If the males are older than two years and still sweet, that's probably their temperament, and it may last their lifetime (Nankins, Ameraucanas and Sultans come to mind). I don't know what breeds we are talking about, so I have no basis for judging on that score.

However, I agree with Mrs. K, if they are still young, like under year, then you might be waiting for the fireworks to start. And it won't be just your kids that are at risk. I say that as a chicken lover with a scar (4 stitches) on my temple from a Cuckoo Maran rooster; a scar (just glue, and antibiotics, and an emergency room visit because it initially bled so much) on the other cheek from a Crevecoeur rooster who was sweet until he hit about 16 months (a late bloomer); and a couple of scars on my legs and arms from roosters my dad thought would be okay for us kids to handle. And still I raise chickens! But I am sure you see my point.
 
And I just found this link today on NBC news:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/...-woman-death-medical-journal-reports-n1049586
Although, honestly, after reading the article, I have to say it sounds more like spur wounds than beak wounds. Beaks can break skin and bruise, but spurs can go as deep as the spurs are long. We're talking a serious puncture wound, in a barnyard setting.
I wear long jeans and boots in my barnyard, and I still get bruised occasionally by a rooster who "forgot" I am the boss. I still have roosters, because they are a necessary part of breeding. But not everyone needs them.
 
I wear jeans and either sneakers or boots, and still won't keep a rooster who goes after me, or any other human. Those deep wounds are ugly, and it's not worth breeding a jerk either.
Mary
 
Welcome! Three roosters will very likely be too much for only seven hens.
How old is everyone?
Even if the males get along with each other, they are going to make the hen's lives a misery.
Get more pullets/ hens? Or get rid of some or all the roosters.
Extra roos can be sold or given away, or go into the freezer. It's possible to have a rooster only flock, separate from the hens, if that's your choice.
Mary
I may seperate the roos from the hens. I have gotten attache
How old are the males?
How old are the males?
They all are about 4 months old
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom