How many Roosters is Too many Roosters?

[Brandi Leigh]

I had nine hens and three roos. We did not have to many problems with fighting but it was hard on the roosters. Also two of the roos got particularly mean. So in the end they made good soup.

 

[Konra]

We had unsexed chicks, a mix of barred rocks, ameraucanas, wyandottes, and buff orpingtons. We therefore had about 50% roosters. We were planning to let the roosters get large before processing, and were considering keeping a couple of them. At almost 20 weeks we were getting no eggs, roosters were harrassing the hens relentlessly. Our chickens free range, and the hens just couldn't get any peace. The girls stopped wanting to go in the coop at night. Then, twice in a week, we found a dead hen in the coop - underneath the biggest rooster. That was the last straw. Three days ago we processed all but one rooster, "Chuck" who was the largest and calmest barred rock. We had beginner eggs the next day, more today. The girls happily go into the coop at night now (we have 8 hens now). I'll never keep more than one rooster again. Chuck is a good rooster, looking out for his girls and never rough with them.

 

[mariannedavis]

I had a similar situation. Loved all the same, but the crowing got out of control. Then they started ganging up on my best hen. She went from ruler of the roost to hiding and running. Broke my heart. I know have one rooster and 5 hens and that works for me. I still am not crazy about the crowing. He's a great watch dog but sometimes gets carried away. Some mornings he is non-stop crowing for 4-5 hours.

 

[ngj693]

I have ended up with 3 out of 7 being roosters and my kids wont let me get rid of them, so I have built 2 different coops and I have 1 roo and hen in one and 2 roos and 3 hens in the other. we let some free range on the out side of a fence and the others on otherside they do fine as long as theres something between