I know there is an ideal number, but for me, fewer would be better, as while my coop is large enough for more, I'm not sure I could handle too many.
Actually there is no number set in stone...tho you might find what is ideal for
you and your flock.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
You'll have to decide what kind of flock you want to keep.
You might not even want to keep
any males.
The only reason you'd
need a male is if you plan on hatching out more chicks.
Then you'll have even
more males to deal with,
any keeper should have a plan to get rid of unwanted males.
You could get rid of the 2 males you have and get some more females.
Now you'll need to learn about integration.
You say you have space for more, but adding birds work best with
extra and
separate but adjacent space. Here's some tips and links.
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.
Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.
In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.
The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.
Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.
Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can
really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>
integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
