Pecking Order and Breeding

[ZZZ]

No, I don't. Chickens raised together really has little influence once they hit puberty. Space is a much bigger issue. Often times people think they can cheat on space if they raise them together and it does not work. Or if they are friends as chicks, they will maintain that friendship, but that is not true either.

Roosters raised as brothers can become mortal enemies. It is not a given that they will, but it is a very reasonable chance that they will fight. Sometimes they fight once, and that is enough, sometimes they fight until one is dead.

I think you get the best roosters when raised up in a multi-generational flock. And I think you get the worst roosters when you raise them up with flock mates, but there are exceptions to each. Roosters are a crapshoot, always have a plan B.

A rooster raised up under birds that are bigger than they are, have some manners thumped into them. Roosters raised up with flock mates, quickly become the biggest, toughest thing in the flock, and often become bullies. As attached as you are now to your rooster chicks, some roosters become human aggressive, and most people underestimate the violence of a rooster attack. If you have children under the age of 6, that attack could be in the face.

It is your flock and you can sure try your plan, but I would not expect it to work. I think it will cause a lot of fighting. Roosters do not understand the idea of sharing, or taking turns or this number of hens is enough. Each rooster wants all of the hens, and will fight for that. If you have a large flock, a huge amount of space, a lot of hideouts, and escapes well then you can have multiple roosters. But in confinement, (and a couple of hours out free ranging does not count) less roosters are best.

With them penned next to each other, they are only going to be focused on getting in with the hens and fighting with each other. You could tape cardboard or plywood up between the pens, so they could not see the hens, but I think they will hear and smell them. It will be pretty difficult to keep them apart when you go into feed and water them.

I always recommend, no roosters the first year, then add some chicks (pray for a broody) then next year, a couple of those will be rooster chicks. Let them grow up in the flock, culling any that are not working. Then the next year, hatch your own. This will give you time to get some experience.

Mrs K

I really appreciate your honest reply! "Roosters are a crapshoot" will be ringing in my head for a while. I am taking your experience to heart, and will give it all more consideration before deciding for sure what to try/not try! Thank you so much again!

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I love the down to earth truth in this thread. Bookmarking!

 

[Alaskan]

One last question, if that's okay... Where would you normally get a mature, pure bred rooster from? And do you put any stock in the idea that if you raise them from the day they're hatched you're more likely to get a better tempered/better behaved rooster?

My roosters I breed myself... but roosters are easy to get for free from wherever your local people sell/swap chickens. Facebook, Craigslist, or auctions.

If you buy/get a rooster, do quarantine carefully.

As to personality... I think it is mostly genetic, with a healthy dose of lots of space.

I started out with a bunch of males (bought chicks and lots of shipped eggs), and I have culled very strongly for personality.

As a result my males are not people aggressive, and in general I can split up breeding groups in the summer, and toss everyone (multiple males and all of the girls) back together in the fall with little trouble. Nasty males never get to breed, and after years or work... no nasty males hatch out at my place.

With a tiny flock, if you want to hatch more than a handful of chicks, you will end up with a bunch of different aged chicks.

Each hatch will need it's own grow out pen.

I have managed this with hatching in good weather, and using a bunch of chicken tractors.

Or.... just have a good broody and flock raise. So much less work.

 

[aart]

Yes!! I'm excited to try! I'm also hoping to see if CL + Welsummer = speckled green eggs!?

Yep, if your Wellies lay speckled eggs chances are it's offspring will too.

 

[ZZZ]

My roosters I breed myself... but roosters are easy to get for free from wherever your local people sell/swap chickens. Facebook, Craigslist, or auctions.

If you buy/get a rooster, do quarantine carefully.

As to personality... I think it is mostly genetic, with a healthy dose of lots of space.

I started out with a bunch of males (bought chicks and lots of shipped eggs), and I have culled very strongly for personality.

As a result my males are not people aggressive, and in general I can split up breeding groups in the summer, and toss everyone (multiple males and all of the girls) back together in the fall with little trouble. Nasty males never get to breed, and after years or work... no nasty males hatch out at my place.

With a tiny flock, if you want to hatch more than a handful of chicks, you will end up with a bunch of different aged chicks.

Each hatch will need it's own grow out pen.

I have managed this with hatching in good weather, and using a bunch of chicken tractors.

Or.... just have a good broody and flock raise. So much less work.

Yes! The concern over introducing sickness is one of the reasons I'm wanting to try raising my own chickens from hatch if possible.

Genetics + space. What a helpful summary to lots of what I have been reading! Thank you!

Your note on the grow out pens got me thinking, too. Right now, I have a large pen inside a large 3 sided shop that houses the "big girls" (laying hens). I'm using transportable wire dog pens to transition the 2 week old and 6 week old hatches from their brooders in the house to the outside. I'll need to plan more grow out space down the road! Or... have a good broody! That option is sounding better all the time!

Thanks bunches for all the good input!

 

[ZZZ]

Yep, if your Wellies lay speckled eggs chances are it's offspring will too.

Yay!! I was hoping so, but couldn't find much info on whether speckles are passed down like color. It sounds like it's not a given, but a probability!? My Black Australorp, Red SexLink, and Black Copper Marans usually have some speckles (though not as many as the Welsummer) on their eggs, too. It will be fun to see if their speckles carry through to the next generation!