NEW TO THIS CHICKEN THING

[poppycat]

Hugs to you for taking care of those roosters! Try mixing the starter/grower in with the scratch or whatever they like and then increase the feed and cut back on the scratch. I agree with chicken-mama about getting older pullets as opposed to chicks. Just a warning though, in the presence of hens those roos might fight even more when they have somthing to compete for. Also you will have to get a fair number of hens to prevent them from being over-mated.
There's lots of good info on BYC! Keep reading and asking questions, chickens are so much fun!

 

[BeckyLa]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back, I don't have a lot of time on computer and somehow your post got lost. Anyway, don't be too concerned for now about their fighting. The alpha roo must put the beta roo in his place from time to time in order to remain alpha. So, in other words, it's a pecking order thing. Now, as has been mentioned, once the girls enter the picture they will fight more often. But, since they are raised together, it shouldn't be that serious and remain a pecking order thing. As for girls, get whatever breed you want. If you're not going to raise young to show or purebreds to sell, it really doesn't matter. As soon as you start keeping them penned up all the time be sure to change their feed. Chick feed or game bird starter will do well for just roos. When you get layers, keep them on the starter until they are old enough to lay and then switch them over to layer feed and oyster shell as their calcium supplement. Now, I do want to mention, as has already been said, since you are beginning with adult roos it would not be wise to put young chicks or pullets in with them. Once the girls are 5-6 months old it would be alright. But they need to be mature enough to be able to deal with the attentions of the roos, and they will get a lot of attention. If you could find some young, like a year, that are already laying, it would be best.

And just one other little thing. On a forum, if you type only in caps it is considered screaming at someone. Noone likes to be screamed at.