Newbie question about roosters in a flock.

[Mr Whippy]

Hi all,

My wife and I built a chicken house, with fenced outside yard (and soon a second, separate yard).

Here is our problem:

We bought 42 hatchlings of a large number of breeds, just to see what we like. They were supposed to be all hens. We're now at 9 weeks of age and we're sure there are 2 cockerels and possibly a third. One of roosters is a Buttercup and one is an Ameraucana. The third possible rooster is a Crevecoeur.

We are handling them several times a day, hoping to gentle them. Is there any real chance that all 3 can stay? What about 2? What sort of time frame are we looking at before we have to do something? I don't mind doing what needs to be done, but if they can all co-exist, I'm better with doing what we can. Most importantly, I don't want a bunch of injured chickens leading to action.

 

[barneveldrerman]

I had a couple nice roosters but after a year and a half they turned a little mean. Just depends how you handle the situation.

 

[FridayYet]

I have my first roosters this year, and it seems to be going well. Two Russian Orloffs are 17 weeks, one Ameraucana is almost 9 weeks.

One of my big guys is the lead, and is crowing, the other seems to be OK with being back-up. They are not mating the girls yet, so we'll see what happens when the hormones kick all the way in.

From what I've read it all depends on their temperament, the space you have, and the amount of hens. Growing up together is a plus.

 

[Mrs. K]

Roosters are a crap shoot. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. If you are going to have roosters, you need a way to separate them immediately, and you need to have a plan to cull them if they don't work out, which it sounds like you do.

I would not handle the roosters at all. It sound counter intuitive, but you want roosters to be a little afraid of you. Chickens equate fear with respect. A flock is all about who is more dominant than who, with the roosters being at the top. IF a rooster as a chick starts sitting on your lap, he is in the dominant position, and thinks that he is dominant to you. His lack of fear, often times will make him more aggressive in that he is trying to make you fear and respect him. An attacking, flogging rooster can be **** scary.

It can work, and if you truly have enough space for 43 birds, it is a bit more likely to work due to the numbers that you have. Some rooster work out who is the top rooster, and who is the second and third and spend their lives taking care of the flock. Some work it out for months, and then one day try and readjust it. It just depends.

Somewhere between 12-16 weeks, you should see the first pecking order established. Roosters often mature and are ready for breeding long before their flockmates, so you will need to monitor your pullets.

43 birds should have a coop that measure 160 square feet. If you have a coop that is less than that, it might be working now, because they are not full grown. If you don't, you probably need to reduce the flock going into winter. If so, reduce the roosters too.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Great information, thanks!

Yes, the indoors part of the chicken house is 192 square feet. (16X12) with 8 foot ceiling. We are building stairstepped roosts and nesting boxes, so more horizontal square footage. There is a penned yard that they have access to all day, adding an additional 160 square feet. When they are a little older, we will be allowing them out into the yard, free range.

I understand about the "no handling" of roosters. That makes a lot of sense.

Thanks again!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Mrs. K is right on here. Also, when you are out there, walk 'through' your cockrels, not around them. They shouldn't crow or mount pullets next to you, or flair or dance at you. I don't have them in my lap, hand feed, or try to make pets of the boys. RESPECT! I'm raising about thirty straight run birds now in my flock, so many cockrels, and every day I'm observing them. Maybe three cockrels will stay, any showing human aggressive tendencies to the freezer, and others maybe to other flocks, or the freezer. It's great to have rooster(s) in your flock, but only nice ones. Mary

 

[aart]

Great information, thanks!

Yes, the indoors part of the chicken house is 192 square feet. (16X12) with 8 foot ceiling. We are building stairstepped roosts and nesting boxes, so more horizontal square footage. There is a penned yard that they have access to all day, adding an additional 160 square feet. When they are a little older, we will be allowing them out into the yard, free range.

I understand about the "no handling" of roosters. That makes a lot of sense.

Thanks again!

What is your climate? (adding your location to your profile will help folks give better suggestions)
Is the run covered with a solid roof?
Do you have 40 feet of roost length?

That might be tight for that many males, unless they get along really well.

 

[Jheila]

I actually bought 5 "hens" three were roosters. They get along fine, and then we got 4 "hens" two were roosters. They get along fine. Maybe I'm just lucky, but in my experience, when you get them young, the rest will turn out okay. Once the hormones kick in, they may spar, then they form a pecking order and everythings good.

And this is only with 4 hens. What luck. Thing I've learned? Never get straight run, can't trust even pullets.

 

[Fentress]

Temperment/personality can vary greatly and is a big factor. I think your space is a little tight for 3 males. It's a bit of sliding scale, more space for them to stay out of each others way does help, but not necessarily. I had my first real cock fight this spring and it caught me unawares. Neither male was going to back down, fortunately I was there to break it up. I would aim for overwintering no more than 2. Keep your eye on them and intervene when necessary. Good Luck.

 

[Mr Whippy]

My wife and I talked about what we've read and the advice posted here. We decided to call the hatchery where we got our chicks (Murray McMurray) and ask their opinion.

Their advice was to handle them regularly, correct behavior, but gently. Keep them all in the flock together and see how they progress. They do not recommend not handling the roosters, so they're a little afraid of people. I asked them directly and repeatedly about this, and they said, that in their experience, roosters that are handled generally are less aggressive over all. Roosters that will be a problem, will still be a problem, but will be easier to catch (in the case where he will end up Saturday dinner).

They knew people handled roosters both ways, but felt overall, they were more docile if handled consistently from hatchlings on.

I think that's what my wife and I are going to try and see where we end up.

Most importantly, it sounds like with the right temperament, all could stay.


I guess it will be an interesting few months ahead.