I have 2 roosters- by accident

[hippiechickadee]

So 2 of my "hens" are roosters. I'm sad about it because they were such great baby chicks, got used to me and were 2 of my favorites. They are 4 weeks old- just about 5 weeks now.

It's a small backyard flock, 10 birds total. I think I already know the answer about having 2 roosters, but I'm questioning even 1. What is everyone's opinion on that?

Second thing I ask your honest opinions on- I have 2 neighbors. One is very close (normal neighborhood spacing) and the other has some woods between us on the other side. No one in front or behind, (just a small dead end street). The close one doesn't care if we have a rooster (she's told me several times when she comes to visit the chicks and I told her my concerns about those 2 chicks) but the other neighbor (a little further away) doesn't want them.

I know I'm probably just safer giving both roosters away because of that then to push my limit.

I'd love a few opinions.

 

[DivaExMachina]

Not really sure what exactly you're looking for advice on: is it the optimal ratio of roosters to hens, or is it on dealing with difficult neighbours? Or something else?

Regarding hen to rooster numbers, it will probably differ depending on the temperament of the animals involved. Last year we had three roosters and nine hens. It was actually ok. Then we lost one hen to old age and one rooster to a hawk leaving 8:2. Perhaps because one of the roosters was very much smaller than the other and we have a big pen with lots of natural obstacles, we haven't had issues. The smaller rooster never seriously challenged the larger rooster and whenever the larger rooster felt like fighting there were plenty of things for beta roo to dodge around so the fights were rarely serious.

The main thing I think you need to worry about is that any eggs you get will be fertile and you may end up with a lot of chicks. Is that something you are prepared to handle?

Another issue is that from what I've seen, far more people have roosters they don't want than there are people wanting roosters. You may not be able to rehome them. Or you might have to sell them to someone who wants to eat them?

Regarding the neighbours, rooster sounds carry far further than I expected and ours start crowing at around 3am, but since we are zoned as farmland nobody in earshot could reasonably protest. In fact on of our neighbours said he liked the noise! I can't really advise you on that score as a lot depends on how much you care about what they think as well as what the local ordinances are, but maybe bribing the neighbours with eggs will help grease the wheels of diplomacy?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What are your goals? What are your reasons for wanting roosters? My advice is to have as few roosters as you can and still meet your goals. That’s not because you are guaranteed to have problems with multiple roosters but because you are more likely to have problems with more roosters. Many people are really happy with flocks that have no roosters.

There are no magic numbers as to hen to rooster ratio that gets rid of all problems or guarantees that you will have problems. Personality of the individuals and how much room you have are two big factors, but there are others. Could you keep 2 roosters with 8 hens without any big issues? Possibly, possibly not. It depends on your unique situation.

People often fall in love with chicks that turn out to be roosters because they have more personality, even as chicks. They are more curious and braver about trying new things. One of their instincts is to go check out any situation that might be dangerous so they can protect the flock.

What are the laws about keeping chickens and roosters where you are? If you are legal you can do about anything you want but you have to face the consequences of that decision with how that affects your relationship with that neighbor.

It doesn’t matter if the eggs are fertile or not. They keep the same, taste the same, and will not hatch as long as they are not incubated.

All these things are your personal decision. No one can make them for you as long as you are legal. Good luck however you decide.

 

[hippiechickadee]

What are your goals? What are your reasons for wanting roosters? My advice is to have as few roosters as you can and still meet your goals. That’s not because you are guaranteed to have problems with multiple roosters but because you are more likely to have problems with more roosters. Many people are really happy with flocks that have no roosters.

There are no magic numbers as to hen to rooster ratio that gets rid of all problems or guarantees that you will have problems. Personality of the individuals and how much room you have are two big factors, but there are others. Could you keep 2 roosters with 8 hens without any big issues? Possibly, possibly not. It depends on your unique situation.

People often fall in love with chicks that turn out to be roosters because they have more personality, even as chicks. They are more curious and braver about trying new things. One of their instincts is to go check out any situation that might be dangerous so they can protect the flock.

What are the laws about keeping chickens and roosters where you are? If you are legal you can do about anything you want but you have to face the consequences of that decision with how that affects your relationship with that neighbor.

It doesn’t matter if the eggs are fertile or not. They keep the same, taste the same, and will not hatch as long as they are not incubated.

All these things are your personal decision. No one can make them for you as long as you are legal. Good luck however you decide.

I'm one of the ones who fell in love with them as chicks. The laws where I live don't limit roosters (or hens). Originally I didn't want them because of noise (at 4 am) and the ease of maintaining just a flock of hens (and therefore no fertile eggs). Now that two of my favorite chicks turned out to be roosters, I'm torn.

 

[norcalsteel]

I loved my 2 roosters as well but when the neighbors complained I culled them. Now that my hens started going broody I just buy fertilized eggs and put them under them so I can still have baby chicks. If you have roosters and hens and hatch any eggs your bound to get more boys. Sooner or later your going to have to cull because re-homing is next to impossible, craigslist is loaded with unwanted roo's.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Not really sure what exactly you're looking for advice on: is it the optimal ratio of roosters to hens, or is it on dealing with difficult neighbours? Or something else?

Regarding hen to rooster numbers, it will probably differ depending on the temperament of the animals involved. Last year we had three roosters and nine hens. It was actually ok. Then we lost one hen to old age and one rooster to a hawk leaving 8:2. Perhaps because one of the roosters was very much smaller than the other and we have a big pen with lots of natural obstacles, we haven't had issues. The smaller rooster never seriously challenged the larger rooster and whenever the larger rooster felt like fighting there were plenty of things for beta roo to dodge around so the fights were rarely serious.

The main thing I think you need to worry about is that any eggs you get will be fertile and you may end up with a lot of chicks. Is that something you are prepared to handle?

Another issue is that from what I've seen, far more people have roosters they don't want than there are people wanting roosters. You may not be able to rehome them. Or you might have to sell them to someone who wants to eat them?

Regarding the neighbours, rooster sounds carry far further than I expected and ours start crowing at around 3am, but since we are zoned as farmland nobody in earshot could reasonably protest. In fact on of our neighbours said he liked the noise! I can't really advise you on that score as a lot depends on how much you care about what they think as well as what the local ordinances are, but maybe bribing the neighbours with eggs will help grease the wheels of diplomacy?

Easily preventable - regular egg collection prevents hens from having the opportunity to set a clutch of eggs, development of the chicks does not start until that happens.

 

[DivaExMachina]

Easily preventable - regular egg collection prevents hens from having the opportunity to set a clutch of eggs, development of the chicks does not start until that happens.

True, but I recall the first time one of our hens went broody we knew it was a bad idea to let her sit on them (it was late autumn) but we couldn't bear to take her off. I just wanted to make sure that Hippychickadee was aware of the potential problems.