Cowardly roo-advice please

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

If you /your daughter want to keep both boys then I suggest you have 2 separate coops, that's what I have done with my 2 boys now and if you can get more hens for them both then great I have 2 pullets with 1 cockerel and 3 pullets with a rooster. (Also a hen with 7 chicks in another coop).. That setup works for me and my chickens anyway. Chickens behaviour varies so what works for me may not work for you.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have about 26 hens (okay, technically about half are still pullets but they are all layers), a roo that is at least 2 years old, and an 8- month old BJG cockerel. My 2-yo roo was a "sad, lonely bachelor" for a while as I described above because his sire pushed him out of the flock as a cockerel. That old roo eventually attacked me and I whacked him and turned him into raccoon food. So the bachelor cockerel, now a rooster, took his place in the flock. Silverwings was humble and condescending at first, a real Mr. Milktoast, but his confidence grew. He is now a very good flockmaster, good with the hens and definitely knows his place around humans. So I got a baby cockerel, a BJG, back in March. And a similar thing is happening, on a milder scsle. Old Silverwings is schooling young George how to behave around the hens and humans. George must have gotten a little, er, randy with the hens one day, because Silverwings ran him off from the flock for a day or two, but then he let him back in. It was like he was grounded for a couple of days, lol. I like having 2 roos for a flock this size. One day a hawk came. Silverwings sounded the alarm and led the hens to safety inside the hen house, while my previous roo did battle while bringing up the rear. He sacrificed himself for the flock.

 

[SirPecksALot]

Sorry, I found this confusing. The 4 "hens" hatched May 19 of this year are actually pullets, as they are less than a year old. You say you also have 4 "pullets." If they are over a year old, then they are actually hens.

As others have said, what you have are two cockerels and 8 females. A general rule of thumb is that a good ratio of males to females is one male to about ten females. More males tends to result in overbreeding, resulting in damage to the hens: loss of feathers on the back at least, and sometimes even a breakdown of the skin, injuries around the wings, to the head, neck and comb, etc.

As you are discovering, two males to eight females is unbalanced, resulting at this point in difficulties between the males. It probably won't get better. At best you will end up with a sad, lonely, bachelor male. At worst ... well, as others have said, cockerels have been known to fight to the death.

Good luck!

Sorry, in my newbie brain once they started laying they became hens. I appreciate the advice.

 

[SirPecksALot]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I sat down with my daughter and had a good talk. She wants to do what’s best for Drumstick (her buddy the submissive roo) and rehome her dominant boy. I think for her it’ll be a bit of a relief as she is the primary caretaker for the chickens and her dominant bird has become quite intimidating. We will separate the flock until our big guy goes to prevent any problems. Thanks again, you all have helped immensely!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Good deal! She is learning the joys (and hardships) of flock management. She'll make a great "chicken tender!"