- Jan 20, 2014
- 43
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I plan to free-range my flock during the day once they're old enough. Thinking I would be getting someone else's cockerels, I bought 12 pullets (4 BSL; 4 Barred Rock; 4 RIRs). The girls are about a week old right now. But now it looks like I will need to supply my own rooster(s).
So should I just wait and see if some of my "pullets" turn out to be roosters after all? They came from my local feed store, if that makes a difference to your answer - but before that, I don't know their point of origin.
But - what if they really are all girls? Will it be safe to turn them out during the day to free-range without a rooster? Can I add a rooster later?
Should I just go ahead and order a rooster now to be sure? But then, what if one or more of my present dozen is a rooster? How many roosters can one have with a flock?
And - last question, I promise! - do I need more than one rooster to free-range with the flock during the day? I live in a remote area, so have all the usual predators: fox, coyote, raccoon, hawks, snakes, wood rats, feral cats and the occasional free-range dog (although my neighbors are pretty good about keeping theirs fenced in).
Thanks in advance - this is my first year raising chickens!
So should I just wait and see if some of my "pullets" turn out to be roosters after all? They came from my local feed store, if that makes a difference to your answer - but before that, I don't know their point of origin.
But - what if they really are all girls? Will it be safe to turn them out during the day to free-range without a rooster? Can I add a rooster later?
Should I just go ahead and order a rooster now to be sure? But then, what if one or more of my present dozen is a rooster? How many roosters can one have with a flock?
And - last question, I promise! - do I need more than one rooster to free-range with the flock during the day? I live in a remote area, so have all the usual predators: fox, coyote, raccoon, hawks, snakes, wood rats, feral cats and the occasional free-range dog (although my neighbors are pretty good about keeping theirs fenced in).
Thanks in advance - this is my first year raising chickens!
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