Ordered straight run - when and if to separate the pullets and rooster

[GermanChick]

I do have an existing flock of 14 hens. The rooster sadly hat to go last year since he attacked my son..... he ended on the dinner table, the rooster not the son
This year I ordered 5 pullets (Austra Whites), 5 straight run BO, 5 straight run Salmon Favorelles. I only need 7 - 8 new hens so that is why I ordered straight run to get the minimum order.
I would hope that there is one rooster that is nice and we can keep because I really enjoyed having one around. So what is the age that I separate the pullets from the roos, or do I just leave them in one group ? And what would be the best age to butcher the roosters ???

 

[<3ChickenForever]

So you just ordered chicks? And you can keep them together unless there is a roo thats mean to the hens, then you need to seperate. The best age is 6-8 months.

 

[sourland]

Keep them together until the roosters start becoming obnoxius to the pullets. It varies from breed to breed and batch to batch, but generally by that time they are large enough to butcher. Do not make "pets" out of the cockerels. Treat them like chickens and "love" on the pullets. Over familiarizing roosters raises them to our level and these are the roosters that frequently become human aggressive. One of the Orps or Faverolles should make a good rooster for you. Don't waste time on a human aggressive rooster regardless of how beautiful he is.