How do most people keep their roosters?

[bugsaroo]

The inside of my coop, I have included two shots, you can't really see from just one. The back wall of the coop is on the north side of the building. It has four rows of three nests. The nests are cubes and measure about 16 x 20 inches each. I can remove those dark panels and let them have the nests that I want them to use, winter top row, summer bottom row. I also have panels with hardware cloth windows for the nests. If I have a hen nesting, or a sick bird that needs some TLC for a couple of days I can seperate them right in the nests, they are still at home, so they are happier than in a pet carrier in the barn. The other shot is of the front, that is where the feeder and waterer (in the winter) are kept. I bed the whole area down with about four inches of pine bedding. Last year I had several nests of chicks, kept them on the bottom row until they hatched and when they were a couple of days old let them and their moms run with the rest of the birds. Roosters included. Roosters seem to be very protective of the chicks, and if they decide to peck them, the hen sets him straight right away. It got to twenty below here this winter, waterers never freeze, it is super insulated. Also the south facing windows warm it to about 50 degrees throughout the winter. During the summer I open all four windows above and both doors screens. Lets lots of air in and stays very cool under the trees.

 

[ekemily]

Quote:
that is beautiful!!!

 

[centrarchid]

Holding roosters for me while not in use for breeding involves pens that are 4 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft with a 2 x 4 wood frame at base. Welded 2" x 4" fencing keeps birds in and keeps some of larger varments out. Dog is critical secondary layer of protection to keep varments away from caging. Rooster also kept apart to keep feathering on good shape. Pens as described easy to move about keeping roosters in contact with fresh edible grass.

 

[Chicken Chat]

That's a sweet setup you have there, I'm jealous. I have just a few roos in with my hens, but I also have a bachelor pad for the extras I couldn't rehome.

 

[centrarchid]

bugsaroo,

Very nice setup? Can you increase ventilation further with a fan? It is not clear where you are located but in many areas summer heat can be a real stressor even with open windows. You may also have to be pro-active in respect to rodents as they have walls and subfloor for making homes, food and protection from predators.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:

That is as beautiful inside as it is outside! Sounds like you have everything covered. Lucky birds

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I've always heard 1 roo to 10 hens but as mentioned I'm sure that different breeds will make that number vary. I had 1 roo to 10 hens (before I lost all my girls and their 10 babies, a couple of weeks ago). My chickens free ranged during most days and locked in at night. I never had a problem with him picking on any, he just seemed to make sure he did his duty on each one, everyday. There were a couple who didn't like him so they always went in the coop last to avoid him, funny thing was, those were the two who went broody. Out of the 10 hatched I had 3 cockerels that I was going to find a home for.

I think that if you never let your chickens out of their coop/run then you may need to manage the roo more but I never had problems...... but my roo is a sweetheart.

 

[chickened]

Way too cool of a coop

 

[Judy]

Many people would keep the roos with their hens all the time. The ration commercials use is 1 roo to 10 hens in order to produce eggs for hatching.

 

[speedy2020]

It depend on the rooster. Some of them is not active mating.