How to decide which rooster to keep?

[ace6175]

Even though we bought all pullets, we now have 2 roosters. Both are New Hampshires, very good looking. However, I don't want 2 roosters. They look very similar, the only difference is 1 is slightly smaller. The smaller one started crowing yesterday, the other one about a month ago. All the chickens are 16 weeks old.
The bigger rooster is really a jerk. He has been chasing & jumping my hens (I know it's normal, but they really don't like it). He doesn't share food with them, and will peck them away if he is eating. He always has to eat first. Then today, he pulled a feather from my RIR hen's neck & ate it! When my DH saw that, he said he would have no trouble having this rooster for dinner, and would "do the deed" if I dressed it.
My question is: will the smaller (and less jerky) rooster become just as much of a jerk if he is the only rooster? Which rooster should I keep?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[Big C]

Hey he's a guy. If there is no competition...
General rule of thumb is 1 roo for 10 hens.

If you are not going to breed then there is no need for a roo. If you want to breed at a later date then separate them until your ready to.

 

[DIMBY]

wow, ace, that's my story, almost identical, I also have two NH red roosters. I have found a home for one if not both of them (lady chicken rancher near here wants both), so I'm torn. Should I keep my big Alpha beauty (tho no signs of feather eating and he's not that much of a jerk-- yet) and keep the beta Roo, or just let her have both of them and my eight hens have nothing but peace and quiet. Not to mention my neighborhood.
What to do?

 

[Beekissed]

If you don't need a roo for breeding, ditch them both! If not, eat the jerk, keep the other. Monitor for "jerk" characteristics in the one you keep, eliminate if they show up.

There are way too many sweet roos out there needing homes to give coop space to nasty roos!

 

[amyc]

I had a jerk-ish roo, and a nicer one - and I chose to get rid of the jerk-ish roo. The nicer one has become a little bit more of a pain in the butt than before, but its tolerable at least.

I'd say get rid of the problem roo.

 

[Equus5O]

I kept the larger of my two roosters (I actually had four roosters, but I don't think the Silkies count

). I just liked him better. He is more aggressive than the other rooster, but I don't believe it was in a bad way. I don't really see him as aggressive, just more forward. I also rehomed the larger Silkie, and kept the little guy. Life in the run has been much more docile in the few days since Barney and Dave moved elsewhere.

 

[tulie13]

How many hens do you have, and how many feeders/waterers? If there are enough hens to go around, you might be able to solve the feeding problem with an additional feeder.

Depending on what your goals are, you may want to keep both and separate them (if you can) or you may want to get rid of one. If you just have a few hens and would like to breed some babies, you would be pretty fertile with only one roo.

If the smaller rooster looks good and has a nicer disposition, you could get rid of the jerk rooster and see how things go. Good luck!

 

[Bedste]

5 out of 23 of my chickens are roosters. I am familiar with the 1 rooster per 10 guideline. If my future plans are for 30 chickens then I will need 3 roosters if I am planning on hatching chicks. Is it ok to have all three Roosters in the same large coop with all the hens if I have one docile cochin roo and 2 bantam roos?

 

[Bedste]

If I am going to end up with 15 hens (4 bantam and 11 standards) would it be ok to have 3 roos (2 bantams and 1 standard)?

 

[ace6175]

Based on my limited experience, I wouldn't have more than 1 rooster for up to 15 chickens.
I think the aggressive roo is going to be next weeks dinner!