Cockerels

[MotherHen75]

We have a small flock and the rooster is getting aggressive, so we’re rehoming him. Will the hens miss him? Also, we got 11 chicks and 5 of them happened to be cockerels, we’re rehoming 3 of them and keeping two bantam boys. So we will end up with 12 hens and 2 boys. Is 12 hens enough for two bantams? Will they even be able to mount the standards? And the 6 older hens are about a year older will that be an issue? The chicks are kept outside, and the current flock can see them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes, that's enough hens, but if you have a problem down the road you could remove one. All of my bantam roosters eventually figure out how to mate the big girls. It can take some time, but they are good at practicing. Eventually the young boys will mate the older hens but maybe not until next spring. It just depends on the roosters.

 

[aart]

It just depends on the roosters.

Exactly!
Might be 'enough' females ...or not.
Whether the bantams cock/erels can 'reach', or not, remains to be seen.
Was hatching part of your goals?

 

[MotherHen75]

Exactly!
Might be 'enough' females ...or not.
Whether the bantams cock/erels can 'reach', or not, remains to be seen.
Was hatching part of your goals?

Four of the eleven are actually chicks that our hen hatched. I wouldn’t mind if next year she went broody again, also we have a silkie girl so we probably will get a few fertile eggs.