How many roosters?

[aart]

How many to keep?
Hard to say, depends on your goals.
If you don't need fertilized eggs, zero could be the best answer,
especially with little kids running around.

Once those boys start rumbling and humping, the decision may be easier.
Regardless what you decide,
I strongly suggest that you have a separate enclosure(or 2 or 3) ready to use,
cause if and when it goes ugly it happens fast and you'll want to be able to get those boys out of the mix pronto.


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.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are all in the barn together and free range 8 am -8 pm. (but all separately for some reason. Is this normal??)

Absolutely. More mature chickens rank higher in the pecking order than less mature chickens. Often the more mature peck the less if they get too close together. You generally see them form their own sub-flocks, getting along with the others but avoiding them.

My question is how many roos can i keep without too much drama? and
Will the roos from the same "litter" (the brothers) be easier to keep together, or can I mix and match? or will it totally depend- I will just have to wait and see.??

All the above. I think it is more important that they be raised with the flock than whether they were hatchmates, but in any case it's a wait and see situation as to how they get along. With lots of space they generally do but the adolescent months can get really hairy.

As to how many, what are your goals? Why do you want any roosters? My general suggestion is to keep as few as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters but that problems are more likely.

There is no magic ratio of hens per rooster that solves any problems. Roosters will fight over one hen as quickly as 30. Some hens can become barebacked with one rooster and over 20 hens. One rooster may struggle to keep 3 hens fertile while many can keep 25 fertile with no problems. For what it is worth Dad kept one rooster with a flock of over 25 hens and practically all the eggs were fertile.

Also- when will they "bond as a flock" and stop free ranging separately?

With the pullets, when they reach maturity. That's usually about the time they start to lay or right after. With the cockerels it would take a book to even discuss the possibilities but they will likely keep separate harems. As others said though, often they form sub-flocks that roam separately even after they reach full maturity. Often those sub-flocks are based on which pullets they were raised with, but occasionally i see other pairings, I think based on personality. Your goal in this should be that they don't fight, not that they hang together.

Ideally, I'd like to keep 3 roosters. two brothers and the one I hand raised. Id like to get rid of my adult rooster because he is not child-friendly.

You can certainly try those and see how it goes, just be ready to take steps if it proves necessary. I would not tolerate a human aggressive rooster with kids around especially. I suggest broth.

 

[Life is Good!]

Thank you to all the wonderful, thoughtful replies! I learn so much on here, its great!!
When do you think trouble will start brewing with the cockerels? 16 weeks? older?
I'd be happy with 2 roosters. Our jerk rooster is just the most gorgeous rooster ever- and very alert/protective, otherwise he'd have been gone a long time ago. I have been keeping him because I cant decide if I want to try and rehome him, eat him or keep him to breed just one clutch of pure bred eggs (CLB) then rehome him. LOL I carry a BIG STICK when my kids are close to the barn, and it takes all the fun out of it for my 3 little kids. There are 4 potential roosters out of the 6 we have. (2 are albino and Id rather not breed them- they sort of look like meat birds!)

It is a known fact that the better looking a rooster is, the higher the need to be on the top of all things - you included. Or as dh says, just like high school all over again!
Pressure cooker the roo...take out the littles you don't desire younger, then true behavior will show...

 

[Minky]

Why is talking about chickens so much fun? Its amazing to me that I enjoy them so much!

Why do I want roosters? Well, I have no neighbours and I like the crowing.
Also, we have forest on 2 sides (they free range IN the forest on and off all day- they seem to prefer it to the orchard or lawn) and our trail cam tells me I have nice healthy coyotes, foxes, and fishers...... so I need alert aggressive males!

I tell my kids all day long to walk and talk slow and low pitched. But 2 of my 3 kids have adhd and 1 is on has ASD so sort of not gonna happen. They carry kid sized rakes or hoes and if they are with me I make sure I have I big old staff. I did not raise my handsome rooster, and he was kept with 5 hens in a very small hen house (it was about 3x5)and since we had deep snow 6 months this winter I'd imagine 15 square feet and 7 birds turned him into an a-hole. So, I give him the benefit of the doubt and hope for a change in his attitude... but for now I keep him to keep my hens and all the generations - safe.

My dh doesnt mind the idea of trying to do the deed himself-- but a big feathery rooster seems like a bigger job then say, a meat bird.
I am considering bringing him in in 2 weeks with my White Rocks..... do you think butcher will do a rooster?

I like all your ideas and suggestions. I will have DH prepare 2 more "pens" in the barn- they are always useful to have I think (broody hens, injured birds, mating etc).
Good ideas everyone! thanks

 

[aart]

I am considering bringing him in in 2 weeks with my White Rocks..... do you think butcher will do a rooster?

If they'll do white rocks(not CX?) they would probably do the rooster too...call and ask.

 

[Minky]

Same thing I guess- yes, I called, and he said he would do the rooster. I'm so torn.
I guess I have 2 weeks to agonize over it. Here is my big butt hole brooster the rooster.

 

[Chickassan]

Aww, he's handsome its a shame he's not very nice. I'm going to tell you the truth he's mature,and if he isn't nice now he probably won't ever be so don't be hard on yourself if you decide he sleeps with the fishes.

Same thing I guess- yes, I called, and he said he would do the rooster. I'm so torn.
I guess I have 2 weeks to agonize over it. Here is my big butt hole brooster the rooster.
View attachment 1428231

 

[aart]

decide he sleeps with the fishes.

Sleeps with the noodles

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Looks relatively young,maybe try rehabilitation,but he may never change.

Same thing I guess- yes, I called, and he said he would do the rooster. I'm so torn.
I guess I have 2 weeks to agonize over it. Here is my big butt hole brooster the rooster.
View attachment 1428231

 

[Minky]

He is one year old (apparently bought last april as a chick from the lady who gave him to me). I don't think he can be rehabilitated. He's got that "Im an A$$hole look" in his eye.
In all other respects, a great rooster. Hardly eats, takes good care of showing his ladies the good grubs, walks them half way back to the barn to lay eggs and runs over to the half way point to pick them back up when they're done. Every egg is fertile.

Is it true I can just "pop off " his spurs with pliers?