Gang Breeding

[RodNTN]

Hello! I have been asking about how many hens for how many roosters lately and it seems that I now have a problem.

I have 4 four month old cockerels, and boy has their testosterone kicked in! The two head cockerels will chase one hen down and forcefully mount her while another cockerel will come up and try to fight the other two off of the poor hen. Every time this happens I immediately get them all of her and push them away.
I know this isn't doing any good because they'll end up doing it again 5 minutes later.

One of their favorite hens is my Easter Egger and every time they get near her she comes up to me and gets under my arm or climbs into my lap scared to death to escape them.

It usually happens the most in the morning and in the evenings when their energy levels are up. I really don't want to rehome any of my boys. The two head cockerels are Ayam Cemani's and it took a great deal of care to hatch and care for them (I had to assist one in hatching).

Is there any way I can put this violet breeding to a stop? Thanks in advance!

 

[RUNuts]

Separate runs for the boys until they learn to mind their manners.

 

[keesmom]

If you don't want to rehome or eat them, a bachelor pad is your only option. Depending on how many females you have it may have to be permanent.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

with conjugal visits if you want eggs for hatching

 

[BantyChooks]

Chicken soup? Kidding. Agree with separate housing.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed, for the sake of your birds, you MUST separate the cockerels into separate housing. This advice is for any BYF owners who intend to hatch eggs: Do not ever consider plugging in an incubator, or setting eggs to a broody hen unless you already have an exit plan and a management plan in place for the inevitable cockerels. To do so is poor stewardship of the animals entrusted into your care.

 

[bobbi-j]

This advice is for any BYF owners who intend to hatch eggs: Do not ever consider plugging in an incubator, or setting eggs to a broody hen unless you already have an exit plan and a management plan in place for the inevitable cockerels. To do so is poor stewardship of the animals entrusted into your care.

This.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Agreed, for the sake of your birds, you MUST separate the cockerels into separate housing. This advice is for any BYF owners who intend to hatch eggs: Do not ever consider plugging in an incubator, or setting eggs to a broody hen unless you already have an exit plan and a management plan in place for the inevitable cockerels. To do so is poor stewardship of the animals entrusted into your care.

This.

x2

 

[Diannastarr]

Hello! I have been asking about how many hens for how many roosters lately and it seems that I now have a problem.

I have 4 four month old cockerels, and boy has their testosterone kicked in! The two head cockerels will chase one hen down and forcefully mount her while another cockerel will come up and try to fight the other two off of the poor hen. Every time this happens I immediately get them all of her and push them away.
I know this isn't doing any good because they'll end up doing it again 5 minutes later.

One of their favorite hens is my Easter Egger and every time they get near her she comes up to me and gets under my arm or climbs into my lap scared to death to escape them.

It usually happens the most in the morning and in the evenings when their energy levels are up. I really don't want to rehome any of my boys. The two head cockerels are Ayam Cemani's and it took a great deal of care to hatch and care for them (I had to assist one in hatching).

Is there any way I can put this violet breeding to a stop? Thanks in advance!

yes thats the stage they get pretty crazy , so put them in a pen , if the roos have been together since birth and wont fight then put them in a pen together, they will be fine, but roos can kill a hen so the usual rule of roos to hens is one roo to 10 or 12 hens , so if you have more roos then that..? put them in a pen& keep them away from you girls..! but use a big pen like 20x20 or larger so then they will be happy and live a good life together. so no more worries.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Ditto, ditto, ditto! Time for a roo cave with a large pen. Good stewardship is what its all about. Don't have the money, time or space to provide a roo pen? Then, its time to rehome...gotta think about your girls. They are the ones sacrificing each day to provide you with eggs. This situation is extremely stressful for them. As I said in other posts, I too had four roosters. Put them all in a roo pen, trained then rehomed two. The other two remained in the roo pen for the first two years. I alternated free range days, hens one day rooster next. Now I just have one rooster, his buddy passed away.