Questions from a rookie

[justplainolstev]

I am a first timer raising chickens. They are 12 weeks old . I purchased 6 RI Reds and 6 Rose Brown Leghorns. 2 of the leghorns were roosters. They were constantly crowing, I don’t know if they were competing. They didn’t attack me because I learned the holding trick, but my 6 year olds they attacked until they cried and ran then chased. One of them was for lack of a better word, biting the neck of one of the hens one day and would not let go, she was screaming. I am starting to think I am just not cut out for it. I know they have their ways but it really bothered me watching them beat up the hens. I gave the 2 roosters away to 2 homes that would take care of them.

My questions are other than not having any fertilized eggs in future and no protector. Are there any negatives to not having a rooster around? I have noticed the girls fighting the last couple of days and doing excessive wandering, They are free rein.

Last ? When are you supposed to let them in the nesting boxes? I let mine in since they were in the coop and they all sleep together in 3 of the 6 boxes? Should I close them up and persuade them to use the roost which is a 2 x 4.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

They might not like the 2x4 - try thick branches.

Like you said, the down points are not having fertilized eggs, and no protector. My hens have got along fine without one for almost a 1 1/2. I did get a rooster, because I want to hatch my own chicks. The girls are fighting because they are re-establishing the pecking order. They are probably lost without their leaders. They will get used to it, though.