Behavior question

[Equus]

Hello! I have a couple questions. We ordered a few exhibition RIRs back in February for my kiddos 4h project. We ended up adding 2 cockrels and 3 pullets to our existing flock of 9 hens. Info from the hatchery said about 6 hens to a roo. We have just the right size flock for that. Integration went about as expected. The roos started trying to breed our hens about a month ago and a lot of times the other hens not getting bred will tag team the rooster and try to get him off the one being bred. How long will this last? Both roos are a bit timid right now. I expect they will get more brave as they get older.

Second question. Currently one of the roos and the 3 pullets are at the fair. Livestock will be released to come home the last day of the fair at 9pm. That last day will be a long day as we have a cattle show, volunteer time at a food stand, and a benefit auction in the evening. I can bring the birds home that evening and place them straight in the coop at night and hope for the best or I can bring them home the next day after the livestock auction. I have a very small coop that is acceptable for injuries, isolation, etc. For 1 or 2 birds. Currently, a 10x13 run that I have is occupied by cornish crosses that we will butcher in about a week. I could squeeze them into the small coop but I think they will be very unhappy. Our birds free range and have loads of space. I'm leaning toward putting them in the coop with the rest of the flock at night. Opinions?

Thanks!

 

[UncleDougsChickens]

I dont think theres a hard cut off for when roosters stop getting kicked off the hen but when I had some, they got kicked off their entire stay. I have a mix of breeds but the older girls, RIR, are big girls and throw their weight around. Depending how big the hens are compared to the rooster, they might never stop kicking him off. Then he'll just do his thing when he can get away with it.

As for your second question. I would imagine the chickens would be ok being put in at night since they cant see much, but come morning, assuming you lock them up at night, they'll also be locked in with unfamiliar faces and that's when I expect them to have issues. In that case, I don't think it matters either way and might be beneficial to just do it during the day if you can, then you can monitor them. If the "new girls" are the same size or bigger than the current ones, they should be able to hold their own.

 

[Mrs. K]

You make me rather envious. I remember with great pleasure going to the fair, with livestock, kids, baked good and hobbies. It was a huge amount of fun!

As for the return, what I think you are asking is about the quarantine. Should you keep them separated for quarantine? Or is it you are worried about re integrating them into the flock.

Generally speaking, kind of, sort of - people at the fair in charge of poultry do know about poultry and the theory is they would not let anything in with parasites. There is a chance that the birds could bring a disease - less chance than if you buy birds at a swap, more of a chance if you have never let your birds leave the place. Your call. I would predict an high chance of there not being any problems at all, but it could also be a total wipe out.

I think you could add the pullets directly back into your flock, even though they have been gone a few days, if your coop/run has enough space, and hideouts, roosts in the run. The rooster I am a little more worried about. They should be about 5 months old, and coming into their own about now, and the one you left behind, has been in his own paradise, and is not going to be real happy about his brother coming back. In fact, there is a good chance that they might not ever get along again.

I would put him in the small set up, until everyone is rested up (you, the kids, and the birds)and then you can add him to the flock and kind of see how this is going.

Info from the hatchery said about 6 hens to a roo. We have just the right size flock for that.

This is more about luck, verses number of hens per number of roosters. VERY often multiple roosters do not work. I am not saying they never work, but the percentage of good roosters is not that high, and the more roosters you have, the less chance there are of them working. Separating roosters and then putting them back together is basically a recipe for cock fighting. But more to the point, there is a good chance of one or both of these roosters not working out over the long term. You need a plan B if that happens.

Mrs K

 

[Equus]

Thank you both for your opinions. The rooster we took was the more submissive of the two and ran from every challenge. I am worried about the integration aspect and the 2 roos. The roo we left here is sweeter with humans of the two...at least for now. He likes to nap in your lap and get pettings. He is often the last one in at night and if I go out to lock them in at the right time he runs up to about 6 foot away, stops, turns his side to face me and shuffles slowly sideways slowly up to me and allows me to pick him up and put him away. His body language is very easy to read and reminds me lot of other livestock. The one we took is prettier to look at, but thats about all. Our RIR pullets are already bigger than our existing hens. It's a mixed flock with a few black stars, buff chanteclers, easter Eggers, and a mystery breed that lays blue eggs.

After your opinions, regardless of when we bring them home, Mr Roo will go in the recovery coop until we are home long enough to keep an eye on things. I'm hoping the birds will have a memory of being here before. They will have been gone a total of 6 days if they come home auction day.

Wish us luck. Poultry judging is this afternoon!

 

[Equus]

I wanted to give a little update. Kiddo got first in American breeding pair, and reserve grand champion in overall breeding pairs. Production pen came in 3rd.

Reintegration went better than expected. Pullets went into the coop at night, and seemed to remember home and had no issues. We put the roo in the recovery coop until we were able to be home to keep an eye on things. When we let him out his brother came up to him and he spun around and ran wanting no challenge. They roosted together last night and have been out foraging together this morning.

Thanks again!

 

[Mrs. K]

Hurray! That was pretty successful. I am still glad you waited, cause one never knows, but that worked out great!