Crowing competition

[Rick589]

If you want to go the chicken math route Meyer has 30% off their chick assortments right now. This fall I purchased 20 of their rainbow layer pullets for $3 a piece and all 20 were pullets.

You’ve given me another question. Is there a consensus, or any kind of agreement on what hatchery is better at sexing the chicks?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

You’ve given me another question. Is there a consensus, or any kind of agreement on what hatchery is better at sexing the chicks?

I have purchased from several hatcheries. Every order from Meyer has been 100% correct with healthy lively chicks upon arrival. Other hatcheries I have not had as good of luck.

 

[WingItRanch]

I'll throw out there that Crested Cream Legbars are auto sexing, lay blue eggs, and I believe they are considered more docile than other breeds. They're next on my wish list.

 

[Mrs. K]

And how old are the grandkids - cause roosters and small children are not a great combination. Roosters often attack children before they attack adults, so it seems to come out of no where.

I am going to give the advice you don't want, but feel honor bound to throw it out there. If you don't want it, that is fine, they are your chickens.

One does best with the least amount of roosters for the needs of the flock. I would not want 2 roosters with less than 15-20 birds. Even then it is tricky and often times does not work. They don't call it cock fighting for nothing.

The idea of adding hens to bring up the numbers sounds good, but unless you are buying full grown hens, you are months and months away from that being a solution. That is a long time for either your single hen to take the attentions of two cockerels, or a long time to live alone if you separate her.

Cockerels tend to be darling, we have all been there, they are inquisitive, brave, approach us like they like us. That is a misinterpretation. They approach because they have little fear, and often times that leads to aggression to people. Yours are in the darling stage now, but it often does not last.

Also know, that todays behavior is no indication on tomorrow or next week, or next month. Being raised together has almost no influence on future behavior.

At the least - set thing up so that they are ready to go, so that you can either separate fighting cocks, or pull the pullet away from constant harassment.

I would strongly suggest letting both boys go, look around locally and seeing if you can get a pair of hen. An all hen flock is a nice way to start. Then next year, with a little more experience, you can add some more, and if you get a rooster, see how it goes.

Just because you accidentally got cockerels, is not a reason to keep them.

Mrs K

 

[thistlewick]

I took Mrs K's advice and removed our cockerels and it was the best thing ever. Have no reason to have them at all.

They live in a bachelor pad far away from the hens and do not free range. We're just deciding what to do with them, we have the privilege to be able to feed and house them for now.

But yeah, my hens live calm and happy lives without them. I have plenty of space for my hens, so there is almost zero in-fighting between them... even at roosting time. I'm there every day so I am witness to it.

LOL, though to be fair I do correct the hens who do any picking on. So yeah I think I'm the rooster


Also removing a Cockerel just gives *you* peace as well, there is never a fret or worry going out to see your flock with a "will he attack today?" worry. I don't think I'd ever have one, now.