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I just started with my chickens this last July. I have currently 4 free ranging Roosters, that after the initial chasing, have established who is who in the flock. 2 were raised together, one hase been with them since I started my addiction, and one I bought at my local feed store (crowing enabled). The second smallest, is the head hocho (the feed store buy) where as my big Barred Rock is the sentry, and I think the other two are the "muscle men" of the flock. My 3 originals have just now started crowing, and they are somewhere between 8 and 10 months.
All my chickens are let out to run around during the day, and they all file back into the pen at night. The roos appear to get along fine, UNLESS I have waited to late to let them out in the morning. I was finding the big Barred, Damein, in the itty bitty dog house hiding from Nanner a few mornings when I was late, but now Damein, Chickie Little and Evil Chicken remain on the roost till I get out there.
Of course now I am on a hen hunt...so the guys have their own ratio....but I seem to be failng at that..as it appears I may have bought two more roos and another little bantam roo....lol.........0h well...more hens to hunt for
Quote:
I just started with my chickens this last July. I have currently 4 free ranging Roosters, that after the initial chasing, have established who is who in the flock. 2 were raised together, one hase been with them since I started my addiction, and one I bought at my local feed store (crowing enabled). The second smallest, is the head hocho (the feed store buy) where as my big Barred Rock is the sentry, and I think the other two are the "muscle men" of the flock. My 3 originals have just now started crowing, and they are somewhere between 8 and 10 months.
All my chickens are let out to run around during the day, and they all file back into the pen at night. The roos appear to get along fine, UNLESS I have waited to late to let them out in the morning. I was finding the big Barred, Damein, in the itty bitty dog house hiding from Nanner a few mornings when I was late, but now Damein, Chickie Little and Evil Chicken remain on the roost till I get out there.
Of course now I am on a hen hunt...so the guys have their own ratio....but I seem to be failng at that..as it appears I may have bought two more roos and another little bantam roo....lol.........0h well...more hens to hunt for
My flock is 13 hens and two roos (and now 5 babies.) They do fine. Roo #1 keeps roo #2 in his place by chasing him a few feet and interrupting mating. I've never even seen #1 peck the other one. Of course #2 sneaks in a girl now and then. It's really quite peaceful, and the girls do not seem overmated.
They do free range, and do break off into different groups part of the day.
Lots of people keep more than one roo, or exceed the vague rule of one to ten. A "breeding set" is often one roo with 2 or 3 girls. Don't give up yet!