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VJames said:
I’m not really new to raising chickens. My grandparents had them, and I do remember stuff they taught me. However, I have never raised them myself. I inherited 2 roosters & 6 hens from a former tenant. I’m going to be moving the coop and all to my property over the next few weeks. I have a run already in progress of building. I have someone willing to take one of the roosters because I was told I shouldn’t have 2 because they will fight. I have a hen setting on a nest, I don’t know if I can move her until the chicks hatch. Kind of starting from scratch, but in the middle of the river! Any advice is appreciated!
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Welcome to BYC!! I think you can have 3 or 5 hens per rooster, but I may be wrong.
 
VJames said:
I’m not really new to raising chickens. My grandparents had them, and I do remember stuff they taught me. However, I have never raised them myself. I inherited 2 roosters & 6 hens from a former tenant. I’m going to be moving the coop and all to my property over the next few weeks. I have a run already in progress of building. I have someone willing to take one of the roosters because I was told I shouldn’t have 2 because they will fight. I have a hen setting on a nest, I don’t know if I can move her until the chicks hatch. Kind of starting from scratch, but in the middle of the river! Any advice is appreciated!
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There's a great article on roosters here, called Understanding Your Rooster (or pretty close). It's by @Shadrach. When it comes to roos and how they interact with each other, with hens, and with people, he knows his stuff. Well worth the read.

Do you know breeds/ages of any of the birds?

As far as the broody: how long has she been sitting? If the eggs are about to hatch, DON'T MOVE HER. If she just got started, she may be willing to move. Then again, she may not. New environment is stressful and will likely cause the rest to stop laying for a while. Beyond the first day (egg already in production), you may not see eggs again for a week or 2. Kinda depends upon how quickly they settle in.


Regardless of when you move them, I would try to put whatever transport containers you're going to use in the coop, open for several days so they can get use to them. Spend at least a couple of hours a day with them so they get used to you also. Then try to shift broody into one (in same spot at nest, just inside the carrier), again leaving open. Once they're all comfortable with them, then move the carriers AND ALL THE FOOD/WATER CONTAINERS to the new location. Again, leave the carriers in the new location, open, so they have the familiar to help settle them.

If you can, keep birds together in carriers with companions: these 2 always roost together, this hen never leaves this roo's side, broody on the nest in the carrier. Building a nest in a wooden drawer/box filled with dirt, creating a cup for the eggs might help move them (wild habitat: dirt and grass)

You'll know they're settling in when the eggs start back in.

New environment means new territory. The roos may fight, then again, they may not. Definitely recommend moving all of them together (at the same time). They know each other and are comfortable with each other. If the broody is about to hatch, wait until after hatch. Personally, I'd try to wait until she weans the babies if possible. The stress of moving can cause the broody to quit. It could also cause her to abandon the babies. Once she weans them, she's done and the roos take over. If you can wait until then, one of the roos may very well spend quite a bit of time with the babies. Move the babies with him.

At this point, not sure anything I'm saying makes sense as my brain is work fried. If it doesn't, ask questions.
 
VJames said:
I’m not really new to raising chickens. My grandparents had them, and I do remember stuff they taught me. However, I have never raised them myself. I inherited 2 roosters & 6 hens from a former tenant. I’m going to be moving the coop and all to my property over the next few weeks. I have a run already in progress of building. I have someone willing to take one of the roosters because I was told I shouldn’t have 2 because they will fight. I have a hen setting on a nest, I don’t know if I can move her until the chicks hatch. Kind of starting from scratch, but in the middle of the river! Any advice is appreciated!
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Hi @VJames

@Ponypoor tagged me to pipe in about your broody hen.

These are my thoughts - but take into account that every hen is different (and Roos, I will comment on that, too)


Broody Hen:

If you are moving the coop she is used to, I would suggest doing the following: Move the coop after dusk, and take her and her eggs out - put in a basket or tote or something to transport her (both her AND the eggs together). When the coop is in place, set her eggs back in and then her - again, in the dark! Some hens hate to be moved, some are okay with it. I suspect if she is really broody, and she gets put back in her own coop, she will be okay.

Regarding the 2 roos. 6 hens isn't a lot for 2 roos. However - if they have been living together in harmony so far, they will probably be fine together.

I haven't been reading your thread - only the one post PP looped me into - BUT generally speaking - if there is enough space usually 2 roos will get along - especially if they have grown up together and/or been living amiably for a while. More than that can be very variable! It does depend on the roos, too, so it isn't a guarantee, but if they work together as a team and get along, I would keep them together as they will tag-team protecting the hens and running escort duty, etc.

This is my general experience - I'm tagging the others so they can confirm, supplement and/or negate my experience :) Best of luck to you on your new chicken keeping journey. My one general piece of advice unrelated to the questions adressed above: Chickens are addictive, and flocks tend to increase (note, if your broody girl is successful, your flock will be increasing soon! Build larger than you think you need - run wise, coop wise! Extra space will NEVER hurt them if you don't increase, and too little space can cause problems. Better to be safe than sorry and/or scrambling to try to increase and add on later. ❤️ ❤️

@Ponypoor @rural mouse @RebeccaBoyd feel free to add/negate, etc to this.

EDIT: I was typing while @rural mouse posted. She has lots of experience with broodies, and I would defer to her regarding if the eggs are almost ready to hatch. I HAVE had good luck moving some broodies, not others....it is always a risk. regardless of if you try to move now or wait until they hatch and they have feathered out (i.e. it would be okay if she ditched them) Moving them at night is still best. other than this one addition, all of her advise is SOUND!
 
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