Oops!! We have 2 roosters!

[Claud'schick's]

Ahh, we just recently discovered that 1 of our chicks turned out to be a rooster and we already have a rooster who obviously is the dominant one. Is it possible for me to get more chicks and the other rooster take control of the new chicks as his flock? Please help. He's a rooster all alone and shunned!

 

[DobieLover]

Ahh, we just recently discovered that 1 of our chicks turned out to be a rooster and we already have a rooster who obviously is the dominant one. Is it possible for me to get more chicks and the other rooster take control of the new chicks as his flock? Please help. He's a rooster all alone and shunned!

How much space do you have (in the coop and the run)? How many pullets/hens do you currently have? Is the alpha really running herd on the cockerel or is he allowing him to remain among the flock? There is a lot to consider when thinking about keeping a second cockerel/rooster.

 

[Silkies rule Forever]

I think the ratio is 1 roo to about 20 - 25 hens....

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Yikes, once you find out they are a roo, it is too late to eat them....so, what do you do with them? they eat a LOT....4H doesn't want mine....

 

[AudieWarren]

Yikes, once you find out they are a roo, it is too late to eat them....so, what do you do with them? they eat a LOT....4H doesn't want mine....

We eat our roos. A crock pot for 8hrs does wonders!!!!

 

[AudieWarren]

Keep in mind I free range. I have 2 roos with about 30 hens. The hens have paired themselves off to the roo of thier liking. In the evenings when time to roost they go to thier own coops. One roo is the more dominant one(Fabio) , but he does not fight with the other one(Jet) . Fabio will chase Jet away if he gets to cozy with Fabio's gal. I think if they have space to get away from each other, they will be just fine. Before these past 2 chicken plucking Sundays, we had 15 roos all together. Not once did they fight bc they had enough space during the day. At night every one was just wanted a spot to sleep so they weren't worried about each other

 

[aldarita]

I think the ratio is 1 roo to about 20 - 25 hens....

There is not a real rule on how many hens per rooster, it is usually recommended 10-1
however it all depends on the flock dynamics, like the rooster's personality, the space they have in the coop and run, if they free range, how many feeders and waterers they have, etc. Working the right combination is not easy but doable, after all is said and done, still the roosters personalities have to get along

 

[Claud'schick's]

How much space do you have (in the coop and the run)? How many pullets/hens do you currently have? Is the alpha really running herd on the cockerel or is he allowing him to remain among the flock? There is a lot to consider when thinking about keeping a second cockerel/rooster.

8 acres , they free range. I plan on getting another coop and putting the younger rooster in there with the new chicks. Also he is aloud to go in the coop at night with the others but During the day if he tries to come around the dominant rooster runs him off and I only have 4 chickens to the one rooster and then the 2nd rooster who has no one. I've only been doing this for a year now and didn't wanna get a dozen chickens and get overwhelmed until I knew what I was doing. I'm still learning. And the eggs are basically for our family.

 

[Claud'schick's]

There is not a real rule on how many hens per rooster, it is usually recommended 10-1
however it all depends on the flock dynamics, like the rooster's personality, the space they have in the coop and run, if they free range, how many feeders and waterers they have, etc. Working the right combination is not easy but doable, after all is said and done, still the roosters personalities have to get along

rooster

There is not a real rule on how many hens per rooster, it is usually recommended 10-1
however it all depends on the flock dynamics, like the rooster's personality, the space they have in the coop and run, if they free range, how many feeders and waterers they have, etc. Working the right combination is not easy but doable, after all is said and done, still the roosters personalities have to get along

 

[aart]

Ahh, we just recently discovered that 1 of our chicks turned out to be a rooster and we already have a rooster who obviously is the dominant one. Is it possible for me to get more chicks and the other rooster take control of the new chicks as his flock? Please help. He's a rooster all alone and shunned!

But what if you end up with a male in the new batch of chicks?
It could be the start of a slippery slope!

Yikes, once you find out they are a roo, it is too late to eat them....so, what do you do with them? they eat a LOT....4H doesn't want mine....

It's never too late to eat them...just changes the way you cook them
I can ID most males by 6 weeks and put them on the grill by 12-16 weeks,
older than that - stew.

I think the ratio is 1 roo to about 20 - 25 hens....

That might work fine.

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.