Down side of two roosters in one flock

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks for the reply. I was the told the hens "picked" the rooster and won't do well without the one. But the original rooster is still quite young (has only crowed once) and I'm not sure the hens are attached to him yet. The rooster which I originally was told was a hen, seems to be more aggressive with the flock.......not sure I like that, either. I think I will return the rooster (or maybe try to list him for sale). What's a fair price on a rooster?

Fair price is often free unless he is a special breed or a show bird. And be aware he will likely just go to "freezer camp." A lot of feed stores will take your free roosters and people frequent them for a free meal.

I agree with the other poster. You do NOT have to have a rooster to keep hens happy....often they are happier without a rooster if it is a small flock as many roosters are overly aggressive with their hens, over mating them.

Unless you free range in the country and need the rooster for flock protection I wouldn't bother with the rooster (and be aware he won't likely lay his life down for them, he'll just squawk alert...which a dominant hen will do just as well...I know...I have one that alerts the flock to the Cooper's Hawk that flies by regularly).... Hens lay with or without a rooster. You only get fertile eggs for hatching chicks with a rooster, so if that is not important to you, don't bother with the noise and possible aggression issues if you are not interested in owning a rooster.

My 2 cents.
Lady of McCamley

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Thanks for the reply. I was the told the hens "picked" the rooster and won't do well without the one. But the original rooster is still quite young (has only crowed once) and I'm not sure the hens are attached to him yet. The rooster which I originally was told was a hen, seems to be more aggressive with the flock.......not sure I like that, either. I think I will return the rooster (or maybe try to list him for sale). What's a fair price on a rooster?

This doesn't hold true IME. The hens will do fine with any well-behaved rooster you give them. Where you run into trouble is if the rooster is aggressive with the hens and stresses them out.

As others have said, two roosters is too many for six hens, and you don't need any rooster at all. Roosters can be good protection for free-ranging, but are not strictly necessary. Keep the best-behaved rooster--the one that's kindest to the hens, dances for them, etc. Also, don't keep one that's aggressive towards humans. Keep the respectful rooster.

As far as fair price for roosters--if it's just a hatchery or barnrard mix rooster, free is a fair price. He will most likely go to someone's freezer. If they are well-bred birds from a breed that's hard to find in your area, $5-$15 is about right. Show roosters, on up from there. Put him on Craigslist, someone will come take him.

 

[aoxa]

This doesn't hold true IME. The hens will do fine with any well-behaved rooster you give them. Where you run into trouble is if the rooster is aggressive with the hens and stresses them out.

As others have said, two roosters is too many for six hens, and you don't need any rooster at all. Roosters can be good protection for free-ranging, but are not strictly necessary. Keep the best-behaved rooster--the one that's kindest to the hens, dances for them, etc. Also, don't keep one that's aggressive towards humans. Keep the respectful rooster.

As far as fair price for roosters--if it's just a hatchery or barnrard mix rooster, free is a fair price. He will most likely go to someone's freezer. If they are well-bred birds from a breed that's hard to find in your area, $5-$15 is about right. Show roosters, on up from there. Put him on Craigslist, someone will come take him.

I've seen my hens pick a rooster. It is always the alpha... They stick near him and avoid the others if at all possible.

I've seen roosters pick hens much more frequently though. My Alpha picked one hen as his #1 lady. He does not over 'ride' her. He just really seems to like her. If I had to give them human emotions, I'd say it's love

 

[Bogtown Chick]

My Rooster has his High hens which changes now and then, and then he has his "Best Friend" I call her. She is lower on the pecking order right now because she's not laying. But during the course of the day I will see him spend time with her anyways. It's waaaayyyy cute..... They are the same breed which I think too also seems to be playing a part. They were little buddies in the brooder, etc. And it seems their connection has continued into their adult hood, no matter what the situation is.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I've seen my hens pick a rooster. It is always the alpha... They stick near him and avoid the others if at all possible.

I've seen roosters pick hens much more frequently though. My Alpha picked one hen as his #1 lady. He does not over 'ride' her. He just really seems to like her. If I had to give them human emotions, I'd say it's love

Sure, the hens might pick a rooster to hang with, and mine certainly separate into several flocks-within-the-flock, each with its own roo. My point was, however, that the flock owner should pick the rooster they like, taking into consideration how kind the rooster was to the hens, and that the hens would be fine with whatever rooster they choose.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Although probably not always going hand in hand in some cases, I'm guessing aggressive to human roosters will be aggressive with their hens as well. And your roo that is good with your hens will be a good one to have with you. This is what I found with my multiple roosters and chosing who to keep.

The one aggressive on hens roo--was actually skiddish with us. Another bantam roo aggressive with us but was Beta with the larger standard hens. But sneaky enough to harass a hen or two. And One alpha roo--great with the hens, excellent look out compared to the other two, and total sweet heart with us. Guess who is still with us? LOL.

 

[aoxa]

Sure, the hens might pick a rooster to hang with, and mine certainly separate into several flocks-within-the-flock, each with its own roo. My point was, however, that the flock owner should pick the rooster they like, taking into consideration how kind the rooster was to the hens, and that the hens would be fine with whatever rooster they choose.

These ladies picked this man.

Not saying you are wrong at all. The girls always have preferences, and my experience it is the alpha rooster. He fights off the attempts of the other boys, which seems to be a key reason they flock to him - for protection.

Definitely pick the nicest rooster. Do not settle for a rooster the girls like but is mean/aggressive to humans.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I'm guessing this would be more the exception than the rule then. Our Hen-aggressive cockerel last summer did over take the lead roo position for about 2 weeks before I dispatched him. They followed him a little bit....but because he was always chasing the girls I watched a hawk dive bomb the works without any warning from him. During those two weeks I'd watch everybody sort of sneak away from him and find him on his own even though he was "winning the fights" with my chosen rooster. Despite his best efforts he had singled himself out to be on my chopping block.