INTEGRATING ADDITONAL ROO & EXPANDING FLOCK

[KEarthman]

We have a 1 year old BCM rooster and hen. They have 7 new 14 week old pullets.
Our goal is to expand our BCM flock to 18 laying hens with 2 roosters. The pen and coop are large enough. We have the remaining pullets and some additional roos we are raising with the goal of eventually adding the pullets and 1 additional roo into the pen with the above-mentioned roo and hens when they are old enough and big enough.
Has anyone else done this with success? I'm sure it will all depend on the personality of the roos, but any advice from y'all from past experience? The older roo and the oldest hens are siblings. These younger roos and pullets are from a very good, different bloodline. Our intention was to have 2 roos from 2 different, quality bloodlines. But if there is too much of a problem with the roos, we could always add 2 of these younger roos that are brothers and take out the older one. But he's a great rooster so we hate to do that.
Anyway, I'm babbling. I think the coffee is FINALLY kicking in, LOL. Thanks!

 

[aart]

They have 7 new 14 week old pullets.

Are these also BCM, and from the one male and female?
Not sure why you need multiple males, which almost always causes a problem.

 

[KEarthman]

Are these also BCM, and from the one male and female?
Not sure why you need multiple males, which almost always causes a problem.

Yes, this whole pen is BCM. They will be for raising chicks and selling fertilized hatching eggs. That is why we were going to have 2 roosters in with 18-20 hens. That's the ratio that has always been followed and recommended to us.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Is it not possible to just have 2 breeding pens? Then you could put the older roo in with the pullets and the cockerel with the older ladies so they can teach him some manners.

 

[aart]

That is why we were going to have 2 roosters in with 18-20 hens. That's the ratio that has always been followed and recommended to us.

Eh, the old 1-10 ratio?

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Eh, the old 1-10 ratio?

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to have more than one male though, just in case the other one croaks? (Not saying there has to be more than one with access to the hens, just in general.) I've seen several people that only have 1, then he dies/is killed and they are set back in their program because they have to try to find another rooster. And depending on the breed and ones location, that can take time. Not the end of the world by any means, but it can be the end of the chicks/hatching eggs for the season.

 

[aart]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to have more than one male though, just in case the other one croaks? (Not saying there has to be more than one with access to the hens, just in general.) I've seen several people that only have 1, then he dies/is killed and they are set back in their program because they have to try to find another rooster. And depending on the breed and ones location, that can take time. Not the end of the world by any means, but it can be the end of the chicks/hatching eggs for the season.

As backup, yes..... but not sure it'll work keeping them in the same enclosure.