I really like freeranging my chickens. But I am also thinking about trying to do some controlled breeding and having multiple roosters. But I don’t want different runs…the expense and the look. And I’d like it if the roosters had a good bit of room also to freerange. I was thinking about making a largish bachelor pen and just putting one rooster out freeranging with all the chickens at a time and switching them out occasionally.
I envision switching a rooster out, waiting for a month to make sure the eggs are not getting fertilized by leftover swimmers, then putting him and his chosen girls into a "love shack" for a week or so to collect eggs, then switching to the next rooster. The goal of which is to have the most chickens freeranging as possible at any given time.
But I am inexperienced and need to hash out a few things… how much would this switching out of chickens affect the pecking order. Everything is peaceful now…would I be creating a bloodbath? Would the bachelors get along without the hens in with them, or would they try to kill the “new guy”?
I envision switching a rooster out, waiting for a month to make sure the eggs are not getting fertilized by leftover swimmers, then putting him and his chosen girls into a "love shack" for a week or so to collect eggs, then switching to the next rooster. The goal of which is to have the most chickens freeranging as possible at any given time.
But I am inexperienced and need to hash out a few things… how much would this switching out of chickens affect the pecking order. Everything is peaceful now…would I be creating a bloodbath? Would the bachelors get along without the hens in with them, or would they try to kill the “new guy”?
