Flock

[Chuckkeeper]

Hi all
I have ten birds in a 200sq ft run. Two have ended up being boys and they've been together since chicks. One of them, the light sussex, has started chasing all the others. The prospect of rehoming is quite upsetting as I am attached. Do I need to bite the bullet and re-home for the sake of the rest of the flock? Any alternatives? I have found a home for him which seems a happy one,
Thanks

 

[Weeg]

Do you have females too, or only boys? Where are all the 10 boys, if not, then how many boys do you have, compared to females. There are ways to keep extra roosters without having to rehome, but you need to have the right set up for it.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

Do you have females too, or only boys? Where are all the 10 boys, if not, then how many boys do you have, compared to females. There are ways to keep extra roosters without having to rehome, but you need to have the right set up for it.

Hi. I have both boys with 8 hens in one run, with a 3 metre coop and a 200sq foot run. Thanks

 

[Weeg]

Ohh, so you only have 2 boys, to 8 girls. The ratio should be fine of the ladies. You may be worried about the boys fighting though. To solve that problem, you will have to separate the flocks, 4 hens with each rooster. You could take some fencing and just split ti down the middle of the run, or you could build another coop. I have had a dominant rooster kill a younger one though, so you will likely need to separate.

 

[Aapomp831]

Do you have females too, or only boys? Where are all the 10 boys, if not, then how many boys do you have, compared to females. There are ways to keep extra roosters without having to rehome, but you need to have the right set up for it.

Did you not read the original post???

 

[Chuckkeeper]

Ohh, so you only have 2 boys, to 8 girls. The ratio should be fine of the ladies. You may be worried about the boys fighting though. To solve that problem, you will have to separate the flocks, 4 hens with each rooster. You could take some fencing and just split ti down the middle of the run, or you could build another coop. I have had a dominant rooster kill a younger one though, so you will likely need to separate.

Thank you. I am reluctant to split the run as all birds will end up with less space and I wonder if I am just being silly. The two boys at the moment leave each other alone.

 

[Weeg]

Did you not read the original post???

I did, ya I know, I kinda skimmed it! Just uh, clarifying?

 

[Aapomp831]

Hi. I have both boys with 8 hens in one run, with a 3 metre coop and a 200sq foot run. Thanks

You will need to separate; honestly I would rehome. You will regret it in the future, since the issues only get worse with age and having two separate flocks is a huge PITA. Rehoming roosters is especially hard, so I would take the opportunity and run with it.

 

[Aapomp831]

Thank you. I am reluctant to split the run as all birds will end up with less space and I wonder if I am just being silly. The two boys at the moment leave each other alone.

You are not being silly... you are thinking ahead. And it’s only a matter of time before they start not being so nice to each other.... I know it’s hard but roosters have one goal once they mature... to mate. Two of them will overmate your hens and cause injury anyways. All my roosters have always fought -‘regardless of whether they were raised together or not.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

You will need to separate; honestly I would rehome. You will regret it in the future, since the issues only get worse with age and having two separate flocks is a huge PITA. Rehoming roosters is especially hard, so I would take the opportunity and run with it.

Thank you. This is the honesty I came here for & appreciate, though it isn't what I wanted to hear! I appreciate it. Last Q then... Send both off together as they have been together all their life... Or keep the quieter and friendlier one with my girls (but forever worry about noise and maybe end up trying a rooster collar?)