Officially the owner of two roosters. Help!

[polka_dottie]

Back in April, I scoured the pages on sexing older chicks (they were 6 weeks at the time) before going to pick up two Buff Orps from a straight run. Complete chick noob and mom of a preschooler, I snagged two that appeared the most docile in the presence of my smaller human. Ended up with one pullet and one cockrel. Not too shabby. My previous town ordinance says we are allowed 1 rooster and 6 hens, but our current town just has a number per lot size (we are zoned agricultural but have 1.2 acres so I feel the counts from our last home are appropriate). Having adopted a pair of year old Isa Red hens from a friend, I decided that splitting the minimum buy from TSC with my same friend was in order to round out my allowance of feathered friends and restock her flock.
You may have seen my other post, one of TSC's sexed Barred Rocks turned out to also be a cockrel. Today, that cockrel named Chocolate Frosted Doughnut (I mentioned my kid, right? She's had exclusive naming rights to all pets LOL) crowed. My mouthy Buff Orp roo is probably still three times the size of the newly voiced boy. I am not a fan of just popping the little one in the stew pot. However, we do have neighbors who have been tollerant of one too but probably don't want to hear Duelling Cockadoodledoo-ing all day.
So here's where we are at currently:
- Buff Orps and Isa Reds are in the coop/run.
- Barred Rocks are now approx. 12 weeks and in a temporary housing/run situation off my shed until they bulk up a bit more
- Barred lil roo is getting a bit feather plucky with the hens at night

Do I make it work and hope that he gets accepted in the near future by the big flock or get him a new home? I do have two other friends that would take him, but he would be stock pot bound before winter.

 

[Lovem all]

If you keep him then put him with the others when you would a hen. pecking orders will be figured out but if they fight badly where you fear for ones safety you'll have to re home one or create two separate flocks.

 

[Mamatomany123]

First question. How many girls do you have?

 

[keesmom]

Back in April, I scoured the pages on sexing older chicks (they were 6 weeks at the time) before going to pick up two Buff Orps from a straight run. Complete chick noob and mom of a preschooler, I snagged two that appeared the most docile in the presence of my smaller human. Ended up with one pullet and one cockrel. Not too shabby. My previous town ordinance says we are allowed 1 rooster and 6 hens, but our current town just has a number per lot size (we are zoned agricultural but have 1.2 acres so I feel the counts from our last home are appropriate). Having adopted a pair of year old Isa Red hens from a friend, I decided that splitting the minimum buy from TSC with my same friend was in order to round out my allowance of feathered friends and restock her flock.
You may have seen my other post, one of TSC's sexed Barred Rocks turned out to also be a cockrel. Today, that cockrel named Chocolate Frosted Doughnut (I mentioned my kid, right? She's had exclusive naming rights to all pets LOL) crowed. My mouthy Buff Orp roo is probably still three times the size of the newly voiced boy. I am not a fan of just popping the little one in the stew pot. However, we do have neighbors who have been tollerant of one too but probably don't want to hear Duelling Cockadoodledoo-ing all day.
So here's where we are at currently:
- Buff Orps and Isa Reds are in the coop/run.
- Barred Rocks are now approx. 12 weeks and in a temporary housing/run situation off my shed until they bulk up a bit more
- Barred lil roo is getting a bit feather plucky with the hens at night

Do I make it work and hope that he gets accepted in the near future by the big flock or get him a new home? I do have two other friends that would take him, but he would be stock pot bound before winter. View attachment 2271510

How many pullets do you have? What are the dimensions of your coop and run?

I am going to guess you have too few females and not enough room to keep both males.

 

[polka_dottie]

First question. How many girls do you have?

Total? 5

 

[polka_dottie]

How many pullets do you have? What are the dimensions of your coop and run?

I am going to guess you have too few females and not enough room to keep both males.

5 hens, coop floor is 5' x 4' and the run is 10' x 5'. They also free range daily on 1.25 acres.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Total? 5

You can not keep 2 roosters with only 5 hens.

 

[keesmom]

5 hens, coop floor is 5' x 4' and the run is 10' x 5'. They also free range daily on 1.25 acres.

That's the minimum space for the 5 pullets and hens. It's possible the one cockerel may be manageable in that space, but 2 hormonal cockerels are very likely going to be too much.

On top of that this is your first flock and you have a young person. Keeping males can be problematical. Pass the barred cockerel onto another flock, and and keep an eye the other's behavior towards your kid and you.

 

[Lovem all]

you need 6-8 girls per fella

 

[polka_dottie]

Thanks everyone! The little roo is headed off to his new home this weekend.