Integrating my young pullets and cockerels with my older feisty hens….

[BigBlueHen53]

Yeah, I got them as adults and they hated me
I wish I had hatcheries here, I can only buy locally

Nah, they didn't hate you. They just didn't know you. More like fear, you were just another potential predator. Takes time (and treats, lol!) to build trust.

 

[Cheekychook12]

Nah, they didn't hate you. They just didn't know you. More like fear, you were just another potential predator. Takes time (and treats, lol!) to build trust.

Yeah, my current birds a much more friendly, they like to jump on my lap, even the cockerels like me so far
That breed that got taken by foxes was known for flighty behaviour though

 

[DLA]

Your possums are way different from ours!

I just looked up common brushtail possum and wow they are way cuter than the ugly large rat looking things we call possum here in the US. I wish our possums looked like that! Always unpleasant to go out to the coop and find this hissing at you while trying to get in. When you try to chase them off they play dead and emit a smell like they are dead and decaying. I know God made all creatures and they are fantastic at eating ticks and other bugs (which is why I avoid shooting them unless they're obviously rabid or very sick) but they're not my favorite creature.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I have three young frizzles that are 6 weeks, I think all pullets
The breeder who I got the frizzles from also has pekin bantams which is what I have, she told me I should keep 3 with the amount of hens I have, if I plan on breeding them, so I’m really not sure what to do.
I’ll start by rehoming two of them and then see how the remainders go together
I can always rehome more if they cause issues
I do have a pen I can create a bachelor pad.

I'm no expert on these little ones. So I'm going to tag a breeder of Silkies that may help with your ratio.
@2ndTink can you chime in?

I can say I've heard of roo to hen ratios in the smaller breeds is lower. But if you trust your breeder and have the space and coops to separate multiple pairings I think your good especially if you have a bachelor pen available.
I'm breeding Marans so large fowl. I'm fortunate enough my main roosters doesn't allow matings in his presence but by 12-14 weeks I need to separate the feisty ones to a bachelor coop and run and block line of sight to reduce fighting. I don't tolerate any overmating or tag teaming of my girls.

 

[Cheekychook12]

I'm no expert on these little ones. So I'm going to tag a breeder of Silkies that may help with your ratio.
@2ndTink can you chime in?

I can say I've heard of roo to hen ratios in the smaller breeds is lower. But if you trust your breeder and have the space and coops to separate multiple pairings I think your good especially if you have a bachelor pen available.
I'm breeding Marans so large fowl. I'm fortunate enough my main roosters doesn't allow matings in his presence but by 12-14 weeks I need to separate the feisty ones to a bachelor coop and run and block line of sight to reduce fighting. I don't tolerate any overmating or tag teaming of my girls.

Yeah someone I know breeds bantams and has 20 hens and five Roos and they all get along
Very much fair, my cockerels haven’t started mounting yet but hopefully by that time they’ll be with the adult hens hopefully they’ll teach them to behave

 

[Cheekychook12]

I just looked up common brushtail possum and wow they are way cuter than the ugly large rat looking things we call possum here in the US. I wish our possums looked like that! Always unpleasant to go out to the coop and find this hissing at you while trying to get in. When you try to chase them off they play dead and emit a smell like they are dead and decaying. I know God made all creatures and they are fantastic at eating ticks and other bugs (which is why I avoid shooting them unless they're obviously rabid or very sick) but they're not my favorite creature.View attachment 4028039

Fair enough, yeah our possums are very cute and harmless

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I just looked up common brushtail possum and wow they are way cuter than the ugly large rat looking things we call possum here in the US. I wish our possums looked like that! Always unpleasant to go out to the coop and find this hissing at you while trying to get in. When you try to chase them off they play dead and emit a smell like they are dead and decaying. I know God made all creatures and they are fantastic at eating ticks and other bugs (which is why I avoid shooting them unless they're obviously rabid or very sick) but they're not my favorite creature.View attachment 4028039

American opossums seldom get rabies though, as their body temperature is so low. At least that is my understanding. Not saying never, just very unlikely.

Fair enough, yeah our possums are very cute and harmless

Can you post a pic of this cuteness, please? Ours have a big wide mouth full of gnarly teeth. And they hiss like a snake.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yeah someone I know breeds bantams and has 20 hens and five Roos and they all get along
Very much fair, my cockerels haven’t started mounting yet but hopefully by that time they’ll be with the adult hens hopefully they’ll teach them to behave

This sounds reasonable but to reiterate your ratio is much different.
5 boys to 4 hens with 7 pullets around same age as the boys correct.
Now I'm speaking of my experience (large fowl) so this may differ but giving you some thoughts here.

5 boys riled up going after 4 hens that won't let them mate. So they go after the 7 pullets. That's 5 on 7. Maybe the hens will school them a bit even attempting to knock the boys off the pullets, but that's alot of chaos especially absent of an older roo.
It might not happen and I could be wrong with the bantam breeds but this is what I foresee with a large fowl flock.
Both my main roosters don't allow mating in their presence in the coop and the boys tow the line, but free range is a lost cause around 14 wks. So I separate at first sight of any misbehaving.

It's completely understandable and I agree, we want to keep our males for breeding but my girls are 1st priority.

I've got 12 boys at the moment so I can relate.

 

[2ndTink]

I have silkies, more boys than I need, I keep a bachelor pen for the ones who'll get along, and just 1 boy per breeding pen.

I haven't tried doing 2 boys in one pen with hens as I have them color separated right now. I've had some spats through the run fences, mainly with the large fowl. The boys can sure get the hens riled up and upset. I haven't had any injuries though so I just let them get it out if their system, the boys eventually loose interest and wander off (except for the bantam Ameraucanas, they have no quit whatsoever).

I think keeping a double fence between them for a few weeks is your best bet and maybe try creating a bachelor coop and just introduce 1 boy when the time comes.

 

[Cheekychook12]

American opossums seldom get rabies though, as their body temperature is so low. At least that is my understanding. Not saying never, just very unlikely.


Can you post a pic of this cuteness, please? Ours have a big wide mouth full of gnarly teeth. And they hiss like a snake.

I saw a baby one once