Hen & Roo Combinations

[tulie13]

I have 7 Buff Orpingtons, 10 Speckled Sussex, and 5 Easter Egger hens. Right now I also have 8 RIR roos - at least 7 are going to Freezer Camp next week. These roos were a mistake, I was supposed to have pullets. But all 8 are roos - I have ZERO RIR pullets.

So hens are BO, SS, and EE.

I can obtain free roosters from a friend who split my original chick order with me - out of all the BO, SS, and EE chicks, she got 1 BO and 2 EE roos. They are beautiful birds, and obviously the same breed as a couple of my hens.

Options/combos:

1 BO roo only - would minimize crowing, but if something happened to him I would have no roo, no possibility of chicks unless I obtained/raised another, etc. But this way I would know what all my babies would be, BO + "whatever lays that color egg"...

I have heard two roos are bad, so the other combos I'm considering are:

1 BO roo and 2 EE roos - they are the same breeds as my hens (except the SS hens, don't have access to a SS roo anyway). However, my friend also has an EE roo, so as far as breeding more EE's, together we have that covered. So I don't really NEED an EE roo at all (which is why I was considering just one roo, the BO).

OR

1 BO roo, 1 EE roo, and keep one of my RIR roos - this would give me three different potential daddies, and I hear RIR + BO makes a good cross. Controlling or knowing who is the daddy would be difficult as I'd have to isolate them in an alternating fashion of some sort.

I thought about just keeping one RIR roo - that would put me back in the "one daddy" situation so I would know all my crosses, but then I would have NO pure-breeds at all as I have ZERO pullets that are RIR.

Thoughts anyone?

ALSO: my 8 roos have started crowing in the morning already, and I can't even hear them in my house. I don't think my neighbors can, either. So I think I am probably OK on the "crowing aggravating the neighbors" front. Regardless, if I have 3 roos and need to get rid of 2 later, I can do that when and if it becomes necessary. (or if I have to get rid of all 3 to keep neighbors happy...

) But if I don't take 3 roos now, it will be MUCH HARDER for me to get my hands on them later.

 

[Indiana hens]

I have only kept 1 mixed roo. Purebred is my vote. Start building coops. RIR hens r great the roos r unruley. If u just want one breed I suggest BO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is Handsome out Buff O/ EE combo Roo

 

[lauralou]

If it were me, I wouldn't keep any of the RIR roos. Don't get me wrong, I think they are fabulously beautiful, but you don't have any RIR hens, so I would send them all to freezer camp. That's just me, of course.

Either of your other choices sound fine. Personally, I like the crazy look of the EE roos. Again, that's just me.

Whatever you choose, I hope you get a very nice roo to protect your hens!

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
I LOVE the EE roos - the two that my friend got out of our split batch of chicks are BEAUTIFUL, and so is the BO roo. I was going to just get the BO roo from them after getting rid of all my RIR roos, but then I started reconsidering options.

If I don't take their two EE roos, THEY will go to freezer camp down the road - they already have a roo that they love, and don't want more than one. So they are keeping "Winnie" and want to get rid of these new guys. Either I take them or they go to freezer camp. Same deal with the BO roo - but I'm 100% sure I want him!!!!

Oh, and by the way, I love your avatar - maybe I could teach my roos how to use firearms...

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
Beautiful birds!! "Start building coops"...

My husband is going to hate you guys!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Where did you hear that two roosters are bad but that three are OK? I would not base my plan on that premise. My thoughts on the potential problems with roosters are in this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219443

With 22 hens, I'd think two roosters would be perfect for you. Two roosters should keep all the hens fertile and you will have less chance of barebacked hens with two roosters instead of three. it is still possible, just less chance.

If you separate them into a breeding flock and a laying flock to control who the father is, then the situation changes.

 

[lauralou]

Ha! Yes, I wish I could teach my chickens to use tiny firearms, too. Then they could fight off the foxes and the coyotes that are a plague on our house right now...

You know, it's not such a bad idea to get more than one roo. That way you could grow them out and decide which one(s) you like best. I don't know if you've ever had an adult rooster before, but some of them can be quite nasty. It would be a bummer if you only got one, and he grew up to be evil.

And since freezer camp is an option that you are willing to entertain, well, you can have the naughty ones for dinner, and keep the nice ones.

Just an idea.

 

[Junkmanme]

I agree with Ridgerunner that 2 Roosters makes sense with your number of hens.

I would also separate the chickens into 2 flocks that are housed and ranged separately.

The Buff Orpington Rooster is a good choice, reputedly Calm and relatively Mild-mannered.

Although I've heard that the Rhode Island Red Roosters are particularly fiesty....this may depend somewhat on the individual rooster. You have several to choose from in your chicks. A RIR rooster would probably sire some good, sex-linked chicks from some of your hens. Personally, I would keep one of the RIR roosters for my 2nd rooster. Time-Proven to be good chickens!

Disclaimer: These opinions are purely "my opinions and my thoughts". I haven't the experience to back up these ideas, mostly just what I've concluded from reading other's experiences.

-Junkmanme-

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
Where did you hear that two roosters are bad but that three are OK? I would not base my plan on that premise. My thoughts on the potential problems with roosters are in this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219443

With 22 hens, I'd think two roosters would be perfect for you. Two roosters should keep all the hens fertile and you will have less chance of barebacked hens with two roosters instead of three. it is still possible, just less chance.

If you separate them into a breeding flock and a laying flock to control who the father is, then the situation changes.

I have heard several anecdotal stories about having two roosters dwindle down to ONE rooster quickly because with only one rival it seems to be more of a "fight to the death". But that's just anecdotal, also. I guess "all" evidence is anecdotal, because each rooster is different.

OK, so two isn't a bad idea, and now someone is suggesting I keep a RIR... HMMMMM...

OK two roosters it is, BO for sure, so now for ROO-2 - EE or RIR? DECISIONS DECISIONS!!!

The RIR's are going to freezer camp this coming Sunday, so I need to decide soon...

I wish I could separate into breeding and laying flocks, but no room or $$ to do that right now. OH - what if we build two little rooster houses, they get their own digs, then I can keep 3 and rotate them all out... HMMMM.... Oh, HUBBY........

<---(this is my husband)

 

[wildorchid053]

i would give it some time and see who is the best with your hens when they start to settle down.. i have 2 RIR roos and they still keep trading and still trying to decide who is head man...one is gentle but other is still agressive.. when they work it out i will cul one. they are 16 weeks. both are great with the hens.. a little clumsy but they are great with sharing food and calling alarm calls.. they seem to have worked it out as far as i can see.. no fights so far..