I've got 11, 9 week olds-5 bantams and 6 standards. I know I have 3 standard cockerels and 2 bantam cockerels. So that's: 3 standard pullets 3 bantam pullets 3 standard cockerels 2 bantam cockerels I'm not sure how to house these guys once the coop is complete. I've heard you shouldn't have standard roos with bantam hens. I'm not that thrilled with giving away my roos bc I don't trust anyone to take care of them or not eat them, so I just need some advice on how to house. My questions are this... Can I have boys totally separated from the girls? I Can I keep standard and bantam roos together? Could I keep my two bantam boys with the girls? Could I keep one standard roo with my two bantam roos and the girls? How would you handle this is you weren't giving the boys away or putting them on a plate? Thanks!!!
You CAN keep all your roos in one pen and all your hens in another. Some people here do just that. However....... there are some stories of frustrated roos mating other roos to death, soooooo, you know. You take some chances doing it that way. You could build a bunch of coops and runs and get more hens for each roo... or better yet, probably best to pick your favorite and rehome the rest. Someone "may" eat one once they get it, but most likely if you rehome with specifics that they are PETS and not for food, you will probably be fine. And, it'll feel really bad if your roos manage to kill each other. That being said...... if they are raised together from a young age, sometimes the alpha roo will just keep the others in check. My friend has like 3 roos in her flock. They eat them once they start getting too cocky.... but they get out and roam with the rest of the flock.
OMG. They are my pets! They've all been raised together and the alpha does keep the others in check. Oh man....how old are they when they start getting cranky? This is very distressing... Maybe I can keep my bantam boys together, two roos together and 1 roo with the girls? I cannot get rid of my bantams boys..Justine the second in line is one of my faves..Danielle is the alpha...he should probably stay, so that leaves Suzanne...(girls names for boys, I know..) Seriously, this is a very tough situatioin for me here...I love these guys.