Here's the problem!

[countrygirl4513]

I know I have too many roos... 12 roos to 13 pullets. But I hate the idea of culling and I want to keep at least 1 roo of each breed. Is this advisable? I aim to get more hens but not sure what to do. I know it should be 3 hens to a 1 roo ratio... but I love them all. They are 11 wks old now. The culling should have already been done at this point, I know. But I realize I'm gonna end up with a bunch of mutt chickens on down the road. This is the biggest problem with straight runs. Never knowing how many roos there will be. And I guess I need to wait to see who will dominate, which that is already starting to happen, of course. But any help would be appreciated.

 

[justusnak]

Ohhh, man....I know how you feel. I had to let 3 of my roos go...and I know 2 of them went to the freezer. UGH! It was hard. They all had names...but, the decision was tough on which to keep. I have 11 hens, and 2 roos in one pen. These are my RIR mix mutts. They get to free roam most of the time...so there is little to no fighting. Is there a way you can make a pen, just for Roos? Like a bachelor pad? I know a man that has a pen, and has like 15 roos in there. Most of the time there is no fighting...because there are no hens. I dont know any other way to keep so many Roos.Good luck on your decision..its tough!

 

[birdlady58]

Can you seperate them with a small run of their own? This way, you get to keep them all.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I was gonna suggest a bachelor pen also...

 

[pipermark]

The Separate pen may work depending on the temperment of the roos. The probelm is if they cant get to the hens they may start fighting amoungst themselves. A group of free roos allowed to free range tend to do better , then a group penned.

I think the best solution might be more hens

, get the roo to hen ration right, 5 to 1 is good.