can a freerange flock split into 2?

[Chickiemom25]

I have 8 pullets and 3 roos. My leghorn is the top roo and has a fit if the barred rocks try to mount his girls. Today I brought home a EE and an Olive egger. One of the BR roos is very interested in them. Could he become their "protector" and leave the other hens for the leghorn, or will the leghorn roo chase the BR off as well. Since everyone free ranges i am wondering if we will end up with 2 flocks. the new girls came from a NPIP breeder.

 

[eggbert420]

Very possible.

 

[rIrs roost]

What happened with mine is the hens decided which roo they liked best and they stick with him mostly. But they will still try to be with the others some too. My head roo usually runs the other off though if he's close enough. You will need to watch them though. I have around 20 hens and 2 roos. Had a third but he tried to kill my older roo so we ate him. The poor roo was as far as he could get under my mower.

 

[chicks are life]

The more dominant roo will most likely take hold of the other girls and the other roos will get chased away or the female could chose there favorites rooster

Either is likely you will just have to see. Just saying even though you probuly know 10 hens should be given to each rooster you should probuly sell 2 just so you don't have any stress on the hens.

 

[rIrs roost]

The more dominant roo will most likely take hold of the other girls and the other roos will get chased away or the female could chose there favorites rooster

Either is likely you will just have to see. Just saying even though you probuly know 10 hens should be given to each rooster you should probuly sell 2 just so you don't have any stress on the hens.

I would sell also. Just judging by my short experience 10 hens to one roo keeps everyone happy and less stressed.

 

[chicks are life]

Hens won't lay whether is stress and the roos will be repeatably attacked I had multiple roosters and 10 hens the other got attacked to a point were all of his tail feathers were gone and his comb pecked all over the place. He was TERRIFIED. So parting with them was better then torture.

 

[rIrs roost]

Hens won't lay whether is stress and the roos will be repeatably attacked I had multiple roosters and 10 hens the other got attacked to a point were all of his tail feathers were gone and his comb pecked all over the place. He was TERRIFIED. So parting with them was better then torture.

Definitely agree. Even if you don't want to cull, sell them. That's just my opinion though. Most of the time they'll make it an easy choice of which ones to get rid of. I keep the best behaved and either sell or eat the rest.

 

[centrarchid]

New females will be repelled by previously acquired females. Leghorn harem master may try to incorporate new females but I doubt if he will succeed. The barred rock satellite male already courting new females will like try to define his own territory and the new hens will be attracted to it my the barred rock but not repelled by previous females if barred rock's territory is separate. I assume birds have at least a couple acres to range on that also have cover patches for each potential territory.

Having separate roosting sites will stabilize new social groupings.

If area too small and simple you will have one rooster in charge after a few days. I would not bet on Leghorn being the long-term boss.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The alpha rooster will dominate if he is able, and if he doesn't the upstart rooster may become dominate. However your hens are not uninterested in coop politics, and they may choose a favorite themselves and by either bestowing their favors on a rooster or withholding their favors from a rooster, a new flock master will emerge. Sometimes there may even be a subordinate flock master who manages to rustles a hen or two away from the flock master and who squires his own small flock around. You can best see this when a rooster and a hen or two are habitability the last birds to go to roost. (providing that they roost together) Keep your eyes on them and you will soon notice that they NEVER interact much with the rest of your flock.

 

[Chickiemom25]

The more dominant roo will most likely take hold of the other girls and the other roos will get chased away or the female could chose there favorites rooster

Either is likely you will just have to see. Just saying even though you probuly know 10 hens should be given to each rooster you should probuly sell 2 just so you don't have any stress on the hens.

So far the boys are all behaving civil.. So I will likely keep them rather than cull. The flock is expanding slowly... With 15 acres to wander, they seem to be able to keep their space.