is 3 roosters too much for 9 hens?

[Ruby Mia]

i had 9 chickens (1 roo and 8 hens) and hatched 3 chicks (1 hen, 2 roos) so now i have 3 roos for 9 hens, so is that too much? the roosters don't fight and they all have their own jobs, the oldest, taking care of them, the middle, mating and the younger one doest really do much at the moment, but does the same as the middle one sometimes. so do you think this ok or will the hens hate it?

 

[HEChicken]

3 roosters are certainly more than you need. If they are raised together, fighting will probably be minimal as they will work out a pecking order and only rarely one might try to make a bid for top spot, but once that is settled, calm will reign again.

The problem you are going to have is the hens being over-mated. This can result in hens with bare backs - sometimes even bloodied up if the roosters are too rough.

If it were me, I'd pick the "best" one, whether your definition revolve around looks or personality or both, and the other two would be butchered.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, your hens will be overmated. This can result in wounds on the hen as well. I agree with picking the best one and rehoming or butchering the other 2.

 

[Ruby Mia]

but does it matter if only one of them mate, our eldest never does and our youngest does it barely?

 

[aart]

I'd watch the hen's condition and any fighting between the roos to decide..... if you really don't want to get rid of any of them and don't mind feeding unproductive chickens....but it is a risk.

Chicken society is interesting, you never know how they might work it out, but I'd be ready to remove any problem bird asap if there's problems.

How old are the younger boys?
Do you have lots of coop and run space?
Do you have somewhere to sequester any problem bird immediately if there's problems?

 

[Ruby Mia]

the older roo is 1 year old and the younger ones are about 8 months. they have tones of coop space and their run is very big. we also let them free range round a really big space most days.