For chickens, the more the merrier! They like to have a flock. 15 is a good number for a flock, with 14 hens & 1 rooster.He's a handsome guy! Glad he has a good home.They are all so lovely!
Spider is a great name too.
As for the run size, I don't know the dimensions, but my parents used to keep more than I have now in there without problems. I think they had around 15 and I have 6.
Nice -- Patriot vs. Jules Vern!A big guy like that could do that damage. A lot of the larger breeds are less "active" than a smaller breed like a Leghorn. But with that size boy, maybe your girl needs a vacation!
Weeeeeeeeeeeell... it was originally Julia Child (I had 13 hatch, a baker's dozen, so I named him after a baker). Until Jules started crowing, then I was like... Jules Verne? I called him Julie until the day I sold him. 
Jules did a lot of this damage, along with Rojo and Nugget, two others I sold earlier on. They are all RIR + SLW mixes (except two, who are a RIR GLW mixes). I didn't realize larger breeds are less active... I'm like good grief, I'd hate to see a smaller breed then, because Patriot, LeeLee and Bae are intense. (Which is why Bae and LeeLee are separated.)
Well, Amber IS alone. She's blind, and the only two chickens who didn't try to peck her to death have passed away.
I'm hoping to introduce Amber to my new chicks soon and see if they grow up with her, if they will not try to kill her when they get older.
I had a Leghorn rooster that tried to "do" the cocker spaniel! The dog was terrified of the 3 pound rooster! He was a beautiful Brown Leghorn, and I only had 3 Brown Leghorn hens. I had to let them run the whole yard, we had 1/2 acre, because he over-mated the Buff Orpingtons that were 3 times his size! He beat up the Buff Orpington Rooster, too. They had to be in separate areas -- to protect Mr. Buff!
I originally wanted to keep the first hatched and last hatched and they were both roosters. It was clear I couldn't keep both, they kept bloodying each other. After seeing how both boys did with the girls, it was clear Jules Verne had to go. He would hop on top of the girls to do his business and not get off, making the girls scream. Patriot is much more gentle with the girls, and he is much... faster.
Yes, they probably do need a vacation!
....if I keep the other two roosters, I'd have to have 60 hens for my 4 roosters?!!!
Can I alternate the roosters and let each spend so many days with fewer hens?
Ooohhh. I see. Well, I hope to have more soon!
Amber might like to have some chicks. Scratching the straw makes chickens happy, even you blind girl might like some. I bet if your girl got a hen saddle and a vacation, she would recover. I have had Orpingtons that looked worse. They have amazing powers of recovery.Well, Amber IS alone. She's blind, and the only two chickens who didn't try to peck her to death have passed away.
Estimating... about 4-foot by 30-foot yard, and a sizable house. I let them into the yard during the day and if I'm outside, I'll let them out of there and let them free range while I'm nearby. I'll add some straw to their yard tomorrow. They have some in their house.
Wow.
The rabbit wasn't a fan.
If you ask those boys, they would say that they want 80 hens for 4 roos! I just make a difficult choice, Randy is the winner, out of 13 males, he is the one I kept. He was the largest, nicest boy at 14 weeks old. Too many boys is bad for the flock. I gave the second best boy and sold 3 Barred Holland hens to my neighbor, so I can get some of his eggs to hatch later.....if I keep the other two roosters, I'd have to have 60 hens for my 4 roosters?!!!
