Decided to keep one of the roosters, help?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I've got one who was on my keeper list, but he's tweaking my radar now also. Hasn't made a move at all, but I'm more aware of him than I like when I turn my back to leave the coop. Time's coming to thin the herd and he may well go. I've got 8 eggs under a broody, so I'm pretty sure I'll have some replacement. I've also thought of picking up an oops easter egger rooster from someone local, it's about the time when folks will be realizing hatchery sexing isn't 100%

Wish you were closer to me, donrae. I have six gorgeous EE roos in my meat pen right now, and it's a shame they're going to be dinner--but I don't need another rooster right now and prefer to breed from purebred stock any way.

And I know you'd treat them right.

 

[donrae]

Yeah, that's a ways for a rooster, isn't it?

 

[Vynaeve]

Thanks for the info! Great advice, My daughters(ages 21 and 20) and I were thinking of "socializing our roo chicks but now after reading your comments, I see where that would be the wrong road to go down. Yes, we too have learned that the "sexing" isn't a perfect science as we have at least two pullets that are actually cockrels. But its ok with us 3-4 roos to 17 hens I think is good. We have a big covered run and will be putting an addition to the coop in the coming weeks. We have Buff Orpingtons. White and dark Brahmas and Ameracunas all totaled make 20 birds. This is our first flock and had no idea how much fun and entertaining chickens can be!

 

[Ciqala]

Puberty hits anywhere from 4-7 months on average. What breed is he? Some of the larger breeds mature more slowly--cochins, brahmas, etc. You'll see hackle and saddle feathers growing, and he'll start trying to mate. It will be clumsy and awkward at first and the hens might be resistive and noisy. The early efforts can be hard to watch!

Consensus has it he's an australorp, here's a pic of him.

 

[Ciqala]

Is it okay for him to eat layer food when the hens are ready to go on it? Absolutely. It's not the very best thing for him, but he'll do fine.

Is there some feed I should get for him? Or supplement him with?

 

[SIMZ]

My experience has been that unless you separate him, the hens will eat it. He'll call them over and let them eat it! lol They really will do fine with the layer feed.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Is there some feed I should get for him? Or supplement him with?

Not really. He'd do better with less calcium than is found in layer pellets, but his body will handle it. He won't be sickly or anything. There's no way to put out food just for him. As SIMZ said above, he'll actually call his hens over and give the feed to them if he's a good boy.

If you wanted to give him the very best diet, you could get FlockRaiser for your entire flock, then put out a dish of oyster shell so that the hens could supplement themselves with calcium as necessary. But that is a more expensive way to go.