How does a new rooster get "girl friends" out of an existing flock?

[RichnSteph]

We're about to be down to two roosters in our flock of 20 something chickens. One of them is our BO named Pete and is the dominant 1 year old who has a monopoly on the hen business. The other is a 20+ month old BR/Au cross named Remington and he's started crowing but not one single hen has come to see him. Even the three hens that he was brooded with have gone to hang out with Pete. I'm planning on picking up three other hens from a friend this weekend and I'll introduce them to Remington near the back of the property so Pete can't see them at first. I'm hoping they are drawn to the younger rooster so he'll stop crowing so loud and so often once he has some ladies to attend.

RichnSteph

 

[centrarchid]

First clarify, Remington is 20+ months or 20+ weeks.

 

[RichnSteph]

First clarify, Remington is 20+ months or 20+ weeks.

Oooops! 20+ weeks. He was hatched in January of this year.

 

[centrarchid]

This will largely be a function of space for Remmington to have is own territory and he is not yet old enough. Mine do not attempt to maintain a territory until they are 28+ weeks and often more than a year of age. To make job easier I would make so Remmington has his own roost in an area that Pete does not move forage. When Remmington comes of age he will then advertise his ownership through crowing. At some point he will have to enforce the ownership of his territory at the boundary and that will invovle some level of fighting but hopefully will switch quickly to displays that can be downright funny to see.

How many acres do you have and how secure can you make a more remote roost site for Remmington and ultimately his females? In all likely hood, bringing in additional hens is not needed since hen to rooster ratio is already very high.

 

[RichnSteph]

We're on an acre. At night Remington and the other rooster (who we're not naming so we can eat him this weekend) roost up in a tree with three of the younger females. I thought they just liked to hang out up in the tree in the evening and never figured they were all setting up in a different territory. Am I going to need a second coop for all this mess?


Thank you for the help.

 

[centrarchid]

A distinct roosting site helps a great deal. One acre is likely too tight to allow setup of two territories, especially with as many birds as you have. Easier option might be to have two flocks that free-range on alternative days. That would require to confinement areas.

My setup is spread over several acres which makes things easier.