I currently have 13 LF hens and one big ol' rooster. I will be adding 25 or so (hopefully) all pullet chicks in the spring. The breeds I plan to add are naked necks, buff orps., sex links, LF cochins, polish, easter eggers, and salmon faverolles. The new chickens will have their own coop, but eventually I plan to allow them free range with the current flock. There's plenty of room for everybody. IF I end up with all pullets, that will give make my hen to roo ratio 38 to 1. I am not concerned with fertility. My roo's job is mainly as peacekeeper and protector. Should I attempt to add another rooster (chick) in with the new flock or allow Thor to handle all the new girls too? I'm thinking along the lines of a OEGB rooster or maybe I should pick a roo from another giant breed should Thor and the new roo decide to go round and round?
Unless you're getting started chicks or young pullets there's a good chance that one or more of these sexed chicks will be a roo. You may not need to buy a roo on purpose, just wait to see if you get one in your order.
There is a chance of that, but I would highly doubt it. I got pretty much exactly what I expected from Cackle and Ideal chicks were right on the money too. I wanted 3 or 4 roos to have a beauty contest with and to insure that at least one would survive, so I ordered 25 pullets and 5 straight run, knowing that at least 2 or 3 of the straight run would be roosters. I got 32 chicks all total and 3 were roosters. Personally I think that one rooster is enough, especially if you don't care about fertility, but I do worry about fertility, because when I get a broody, I give her eggs. I never stop her brood. But I guess you can just get the eggs from the coop that had the roo, if you should cross that fence later on.
Quote:That's what I'm thinking, in case of a broody. I don't think Thor will stop breeding his favorite hens, he's too attached to them. I could always get fertile eggs from them. Right now, out of every dozen eggs I crack open to cook, at least 11 are fertile. Thor is a very active boy. I love roosters and really wouldn't mind having a second one. By the way, in my Ideal order I asked for 23 pullets and 2 roos. Got five roos.
So you don't have Zeus anymore? I just read your page and enjoyed the psycology of it..lol you alpha roo, you!
Quote:No, I need to update my page and always manage to forget. A dear friend of mine lost her entire flock last year to a pack of stray dogs. She asked me if I would be willing to sell her a few hens, but her DH wanted a roo to protect the girls. I gave her Zeus and two of my hens.
