Can I have more than one rooster?

[Holiwwod]

Hi there! I’ve posted before about my RIR rooster being mean and jumping on my last hen I bought. I bought 2. A Buff orpington and a black Australorp. He took the black australorp into his flock that has 2 Rhode Island red hens, two red star hens and two cinnamon queens. My red stars and one cinnamon queen hen pecks at my buff Orpington hen. I put my Rhode Island red rooster in jail but my buff Orpington hen seems more relaxed and free ranging around with some of my hens that don’t bully her. So I’m between getting rid of my Rhode Island red rooster and maybe getting a buff Orpington rooster. Hoping that the new rooster will come in and not be aggressive to the hens. Can I have two roosters? I just need somebody on her side. My Rhode Island red is very protective of his ladies so I’m not sure how a new rooster coming into the flock will be? As you can see My RIR rooster and his ladies stay together and at first the new girls stuck together but now they allow my black hen hang with them.

 

[nuthatched]

How many hens do you have? You should at least 8-10 hens per rooster, even then, they could still fighting I'd get rid of the mean one. He'll probably fight another rooster.

 

[Birdie mom]

Hello!

I agree with @nuthatched . 8-10 hens per rooster is a good ratio.
Also, if you do get another rooster and keep your RIR, they WILL fight. It's in their nature.

So what I am saying is when you get the new rooster, don't worry if they fight a bit. It's totally normal. They have to fight it out before they figure out who's in charge.

 

[Holiwwod]

I have 8

How many hens do you have? You should at least 8-10 hens per rooster, even then, they could still fighting I'd get rid of the mean one. He'll probably fight another rooster.

8 hens in all.

 

[nuthatched]

I have 8

8 hens in all.

Yes, your hens would get overwhelmed and could die from over mating, and utility would most likely be a blood bath with the roosters fighting.

 

[Birdie mom]

Yes, your hens would get overwhelmed and could die from over mating, and utility would most likely be a blood bath with the roosters fighting.

Ditto

 

[Holiwwod]

I guess I need to get rid of him and bring in a new rooster for him to think all my hen belong. Because I really like my Buff.

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

I know two roosters with only about 5-7 hens and they get along fine, they take turns doing what roosters do and don’t fight at all.

 

[aart]

I guess I need to get rid of him and bring in a new rooster for him to think all my hen belong.

Bringing in a new male, even of the same breed, is not a magic solution.
Any new bird could get their butt beat.

Do you need a male at all?
No need for one unless you want to hatch chicks from your flock.

If this is your first flock, might be best to have just females until you learn more about chicken behaviors and society.


There no magic number for male to female ratio either.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

 

[Kellow1]

I have 8

8 hens in all.

No way should you have two roosters.