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Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow

We have a yard full of about 8 roosters, but that's just roosters out there. I can't even release the hens from breeding pens if I wanted to, as they'd get mauled. But the good thing is, without hens, they all get along pretty well. Most keep to themselves.

We're glad you're here!
 
Chicken_named_Sue said:
So we’ve talked about doing some bachelor flocks how would that work if I fenced off and made a bachelor flock but I wanted a rooster or two to be with the ladies if I have enough ladies, of course, or say one rooster with the ladies will the boys still fight, even though they’re penned up if they can see any of the hens?
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It depends. Some will and some won't. You pretty much have to let them work it out. If you have injuries, say more than a little blood, then its best to seperate. They will fight for the dominant position but often that comes off without any fighting. Just make sure they have plenty of room. I like to give standard roosters at least 25 square foot each and bantams no less than 15 sq ft each. Mine generally free range but I like big runs for when I see signs of predators. You will also want to add some hiding places, roosts, and multiple waterers and feeders in a bachelor pen.
 
C Siena said:
We only have 2 coops with 31 chickens. That includes 2 roosters but doesn't include 3 more cockerels that need to go somewhere. We have already rehomed 4 cockerels BYM. Both coops free range all day every day and there is not a problem with the roos. Just a bit of the senior showing who's boss the first few days.

I thought of keeping one of the cockerels but asked myself Why?

Would you buy/build another coop for the bachelors? There are other's here who have a bachelor set up but I don't know if they are ever out all together. I would think not, those hormones will have the cockerels/roos wanting to mate. Other members know more than I.
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I have a system. My girls with their own roosters free range in the mornings. They pretty much stick with their own flocks and chosen roosters. The bachelors, from two different pens, all free range in the afternoons. They stick together in groups and ignore the other group.
 
janiedoe said:
I have a system. My girls with their own roosters free range in the mornings. They pretty much stick with their own flocks and chosen roosters. The bachelors, from two different pens, all free range in the afternoons. They stick together in groups and ignore the other group.
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Our Senior roo, Buckeye, wants All the girls, except a couple of the older ones...2 years. He alerts, gives tidbits, makes nests, and runs to them at the egg song. They choose him.

As they have been free ranging together all day, I don't see all of them wanting to return to the coop/run. 😎 Yours are used to your system. Really, we don't want/need that many males.

As @Chicken_named_Sue is just starting, they can train them to their schedule. Great that they all get to free range at some time. Our friend/neighbor has 3 flocks and only one flocks free ranges each day. The roos are all dominate and do not get along when free ranging.
 
DobieLover said:
Mine would only get his favorites. But he ran a large harem. I'm curious to see how his successors do without him to teach them.
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I'm not sure what you mean? He is only 25 months and healthy (as far as I know).

He is a Buckeye and I was thinking of Possibly, separating our RIR roo, 13 months old now, next Feb, for a month. After that time and before he is released, I would collect eggs, knowing the Buckeye is the father. I think it is up to 30 days the hens can hold semen but I have also read that 14 days is more common. I will have to check again on multiple sites.

We have 2 Buckeye hens that are 25 months. I am not sure if I will do that to make sure of the Buckeye genetics. I decided to choose between 2 Buckeye cockerels 2 years ago. Being my first year, I did not want 2 males with only 6 females. I watched them each day with the flock and made my decision.

Oh, he probably responds to 10-11 of the 17 hens.
 

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