Kind of a problem here..?

[OwlLover]

So, 3 of my "hens" turned out to be boys.

Built a secure coop and moved them out to the horse pasture, and now I'm facing sort of a problem...
At the house there are 4 hens; Puff, The Fritz, Kiki, and Maple. There are also 3 quail. I moved Andi out with the roos, but 1 hen isn't really going to work. I'll be moving Puff and Fritz out to the new coop tomorrow morning, but I know very well that 3 hens isn't going to satisfy 3 roosters. I considered bringing Ki and May out, but Ki has a long history of violence, having pulled out most of Puff's crest feathers when she was 2 months and almost killing (figuratively speaking) anything that gets in her cage/hutch/way. The only bird she has truly lived in harmony with is Maple. Is there any way I can somehow squeeze her in with the flock out at the pasture without risking any lives?
I also have a few questions about the quail. Would it be okay if I moved them with the chickens? I plan to hatch the eggs they lay this spring as I think one is a male. Will the roosters mate with the quail? If so will there be problems with hatching? I'd kind of like to do the best with what I have and not buy any birds, however I will if its required.
Edited for grammar

 

[galanie]

Do not mix quail and chickens. Quail can get horrible disease from chickens and anyway, their needs are a bit different. They are too small to be in there also.

As for the rest, it's confusing. You have 3 hens and 3 roosters total, is that what you're saying? Pick the nicest rooster as far as temperament and get rid of the other two is all I can say.

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
3 roos to 3 hens...2 roos too many. Usually they suggest 1 roo to 7-10 hens. I have 2 roos to my 14 girls, with no problems.
The above poster is correct, don't mix the quail with the chickens.

 

[OwlLover]

No, I will not get rid of any roosters. They are all show quality and around here, getting rid of a rooster is like sending them off to slaughter. I'm willing to buy more hens if I must as I still need to build another coop.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
It's not necessary that you get rid of your roosters, but if you have show quality hens why would you endanger them by allowing multiple roosters to mate and potentially injure or kill them?

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
It's not necessary that you get rid of your roosters, but if you have show quality hens why would you endanger them by allowing multiple roosters to mate and potentially injure or kill them?

I see your only solution is a new coop...or to bring in new girls and keep the roos separate from what you have till they are adult...? I did not know they were show quality...hang on to them...good luck!

 

[OwlLover]

Okay, so it turns out Stormy has only been hen crowing.

Fritz and Puff are now at the coop, so the boys now have 4 hens. Is there any way I can somehow get Ki and May to be less aggressive? The local feed store is selling plenty of hens, so I think I'll pick some of them up and stop by our breeder.

 

[partsRheavy]

Chicken math has got ya! I would say build/add on to the coop and get more hens.

Stick with what you want. If you need show quality hens, invest in them.

If you get hatchery or feed store chicks or Craigslist pullets you will have egg layers but not show quality stock.

Unless you pen them the roos will mate with whoever strikes their fancy.

Sounds like a carpentry project or two is in your future....

 

[OwlLover]

Quote:
It's not necessary that you get rid of your roosters, but if you have show quality hens why would you endanger them by allowing multiple roosters to mate and potentially injure or kill them?

Its the roosters that are show quality. The only hens that I currently have right now that are show quality are The Fritz and Stormy. Puff and Andi came from a hatchery and Ki and May are mutts.

 

[OwlLover]

Quote:
Yep. I actually have a structure that I just need to throw some wood and wire and attach a run on for it to be ready for birds.

I'm planning on stopping by the breeder soon, our local feed store has some hens, and this spring I'm ordering some more birds from the hatchery (primarily to recover lost birds last spring and get some breeds like Salmon Faverolles.)