Living Arrangments!!

[divachick20]

I am new to raising chickens and in love with my babies!!!! It turns out I have 4 Roos and 2 pullets. They are maybe 12 weeks old, not really sure. Anyhow, they get along just fine right now but I have been told that I will not be able to keep them together very long... I have also heard if they are raised together they may get along........ All thoughts welcome!!!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am new to raising chickens and in love with my babies!!!! It turns out I have 4 Roos and 2 pullets. They are maybe 12 weeks old, not really sure. Anyhow, they get along just fine right now but I have been told that I will not be able to keep them together very long... I have also heard if they are raised together they may get along........ All thoughts welcome!!!

2 roos per hen is just too much- even if there is not aggression on the part of the roos, the amount of "attention" that the hens will be subjected to will be detrimental to their health. If you can't bring yourself to part with any, you may want to consider a bachelor pad setup to keep the genders separate - but this means construction of two coops and runs.

 

[divachick20]

About what age will I need to seperate them?

 

[Mrs. K]

The roosters will mature first, but different breeds mature at different rates. Generally roosters raised in the flock with just flock mates, can get rather rude acting fairly early, they get so much bigger than the pullets quickly. If there are older hens, they tend to thump some manners into them. When they get rude you need to separate them.

I doubt if you will want to hear this advice, but you need to replace at least three of them with hens, it is nice to hope that they will all get along, but the odds are rather against you. It will not be a very pleasant flock, and it will be very hard on your hens. They will be very noisy, and they could fight, sometimes to the death, which is ugly.

Rude behavior can be towards each other, towards the hen or towards you, but especially toward a small child. Children are who they generally attack first. Beware if they puff up, raise their hackles, crow loudly next to you, these are signs of aggression. It is not uncommon with mutiple teenage roos for each pullet to receive multiple matings a day. She will quickly lose feathers, may have deep wounds, and a torn comb.

Mrs K

 

[divachick20]

Thanks for the advice !!! We have decided to replace the 3 Roos , as sad as it is to see them leave I don't want to see any of them get hurt!!!