Not sure what to do with Roos

[PeppersChicks]

I am new to raising chickens and I purchased 8 from a local lady. I posted pics last night of 3 of them and some of y’all helped me verify that in fact 2 are Roos. I sent pics to her and she also confirmed as well. I looked at them this morning and I believe I have another 2 that are not pullets. I’m really upset since they were supposed to be all female. Now I’m not sure what to do. They are about 6-7 weeks old. Is it too late to get more babies with the age difference and do I keep that many roos? Can they free range? I can’t build another run and coop? I don’t know what is the best way to deal with this.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

It's never too late to get more babies, you'll just have to go through an integration process (many different ways). You'll want no less than 8 hens for each rooster to reduce serious aggression once they've gone through puberty. I recommend to choose one rooster, and re-home or cull the others by the time they reach about 16 weeks.

If you look into getting more babies, please be sure your coop and run are big enough to handle it. Overcrowding brings a whole new set of problems.

 

[Folly's place]

Few chicks can be sexed as babies, unless they are bred to be obvious that young, or examined by an expert (hatcheries employ them, a very esoteric skill).
So, cockerels happen, and you need a plan.
As a first year flock owner, having no roosters might be best. Cockerels raised with littermates mature first, and can be a pain to the pullets. having cockerels next year, when you have more experience, and mature birds to educate the little guys, can be better.
Right now all is well, if you want to start more chicks, that's fine too. Do NOT expect this seller to have any better ability to sex the new chicks than this batch!
Remember that 'friendly' cockerels are actually bold, and seem to me to be more likely to become human aggressive later.
You can raise these boys for the pot, move a few on now, or later, but there will be way too many to keep with your pullets. Some people do a separate rooster coop and run, that's also a choice. We've had roosters who were really jerks, and nice birds, and learned! Only polite boys get to live here...
Mary

 

[PeppersChicks]

Thank you. This lady was recommended to me and I assumed since she had so many chickens and she sold them for a living she would have been more knowledgeable. I am hoping she didn’t sell them knowing they weren’t pullets but right now I’m feeling like I got suckered. I could see having a roo in the bunch but not half the flock. Uggg I’m not happy right now.

 

[PeppersChicks]

Does anybody have a hatchery they recommend I guess I have to start over

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

If you have too many roosters and say you only want to keep one then I'd put the other ones on Craigslist. I recently had to get rid of four of five cockerels in one pen! I got rid of two for free and the other two five dollars each. As far as a hatchery, I haven't ordered from them before but if I were to I'd get chicks from Murray McMurray hatchery. They have a beautiful selection of chicks to pick from.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum from Louisiana, glad you joined.

Is it too late to get more babies with the age difference and do I keep that many roos?

What are your goals with chickens, do any involve roosters? The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs, anything else is personal preference. Nothing wrong with personal preferences, I have a few myself. But those are a want, not a need. I recommend you keep no more roosters than you need to meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters but because the more you have the more likely you are to have problems.

Once we know what you want to happen we can maybe help you decide what is best for you. Your goals are what counts in this, not mine. If it were me I'd raise them to eat but that's one of my goals. That doesn't make it right for you.

Can they free range? I can’t build another run and coop?

I don't know what your property looks like or where they would free range. Many of us do free range chickens but that can come with issues. There is always the risk of predators. They don't recognize property lines so neighbors can get mad. They can destroy vegetable gardens or landscaping beds. They poop wherever they go, you might not want poop on a porch or where your kids play.

I don’t know what is the best way to deal with this.

I don't know what is best for you. Since you didn't want any to start with my guess would be to get rid of all the boys.

Does anybody have a hatchery they recommend I guess I have to start over

Where are you? At least which country. If you put your general location in your profile it is always available. That comes in handy for so many questions.

 

[Folly's place]

RR has all good points, agree with everything said. Your approximate location is very helpful here!
Read up on Biosecurity, so you can make good choices moving forward. Buying from a reputable hatchery is safer than getting birds from 'down the road' where ever you live!
Starting out with chickens, a 'pullet selection' might be fun, or order birds that look interesting, and fit with your climate and goals.
Henderson's breed chart, feathersite, and those fun catalogs all will give you ideas, there are so many choices. Over time, we've had many breeds, and found that some that we thought we'd like didn't work out, and others are favorites.
It's supposed to be fun!
Mary