Replacing my cock.

[Unobtanium]

I have 9 welsummer hens and a welsummer cock. He is about 1 year old, and extremely aggressive. He attakcs my girlfriend even after taking food from her. This is unsat. I have purchased 7 Buckeye baby hens, and 1 Jersey Giant black cock. I read the JGs are much more chill wifh people. The buckeyes are winter layers and good mousers. They freersnge on my 13 acres, and coop up for the night.

Thoughts, ideas, will this work? The coop is 3ft deep by about 6ft wide. I was told by deer run farms that this was plenty for 18 or so birds.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It looks fine for roosting and overnight. You'll obviously want to free range during the day as the run looks a bit small for all 18 all day long.

I've had aggressive Welsummers too. You are doing right to get rid of him.

As to your JG, the only problem with that boy is he tends to get big which may put a lot of weight on your girls depending upon how he sizes out. I've not had one, but I've heard they are more gentle.

You may get really, really lucky and one of those Buckeye girls may be a boy? You will love a Buckeye rooster. I really hated to put them down for table, they were so well behaved.

If this doesn't work out for you, I can highly recommend a Barnevelder rooster. Barnvelders are known for being gentle tempered. You can pick up roosters pretty cheap from breeders. Hatchery stock varies, but a well bred Barnvelder is a joy.

LofMc

 

[Fishkeeper]

I don't think that's enough space, no. 3 by 6 is 18, and you want a minimum of 4 square feet per bird in the coop, so you only have enough space in there for maybe 4 birds.

 

[Shadrach]

A 6' x 3' coop for 18 chickens gives 1sq foot per chicken. That isn't enough space even just used as a roosting area at night.
The recommendation here on BYC is 4sq foot per chicken.
I keep free rangers and they only use the coops at night and to lay eggs. For bantams I allow for 2sq foot per chicken and for full size between 2sqf and 3sqf per chicken.
I would think your coop is suitable for 8 chickens at the most.

 

[Unobtanium]

A 6' x 3' coop for 18 chickens gives 1sq foot per chicken. That isn't enough space even just used as a roosting area at night.
The recommendation here on BYC is 4sq foot per chicken.
I keep free rangers and they only use the coops at night and to lay eggs. For bantams I allow for 2sq foot per chicken and for full size between 2sqf and 3sqf per chicken.
I would think your coop is suitable for 8 chickens at the most.

Wifh 10 chickens, they currently use less than half the roosting space when I check on them at night, clumped near the front.

 

[50-45-1]

How are your winters in MO?
Are there stretches of time where getting them outside are not possible? This might be a problem.
I love Jersey Giants, i have mixed them in my flock of standards with no problem. I have seen them talked about here like they are some freekishly giant chicken that cant fit in nest boxes or through chicken doors...really...they are like one pound heavier...not any kind of problem.
Have you concidered hatching some of your current eggs and hatching a pure breed rooster? Sure, you may inherit another aggressive rooster, but my experience is each rooster has his own personality. I have raised lots of chicks from the same rooster, and the resulting rooster temperments range from good, bad to ugly.

 

[Unobtanium]

How are your winters in MO?
Are there stretches of time where getting them outside are not possible? This might be a problem.
I love Jersey Giants, i have mixed them in my flock of standards with no problem. I have seen them talked about here like they are some freekishly giant chicken that cant fit in nest boxes or through chicken doors...really...they are like one pound heavier...not any kind of problem.
Have you concidered hatching some of your current eggs and hatching a pure breed rooster? Sure, you may inherit another aggressive rooster, but my experience is each rooster has his own personality. I have raised lots of chicks from the same rooster, and the resulting rooster temperments range from good, bad to ugly.

Winters arent too bad. They did well last year.
I wanted some variety, so I am buying other breeds.
I tried to let the hens hatch some eggs, but they are poor sitters, and simple math is that an incubator costs nearly what the hatched chicks do. All 10 fit fine when I just had 1 diagonal beam in the coop. Much more roost space, now.

 

[ocap]

Winters arent too bad. They did well last year.
I wanted some variety, so I am buying other breeds.
I tried to let the hens hatch some eggs, but they are poor sitters, and simple math is that an incubator costs nearly what the hatched chicks do. All 10 fit fine when I just had 1 diagonal beam in the coop. Much more roost space, now.

you are right with the math. I enjoyed the incubation in the spring but it never paid for itself. Much better to get chicks from the breeders nearby.

 

[aart]

Wifh 10 chickens, they currently use less than half the roosting space when I check on them at night, clumped near the front.

It's not so much about roosting space but air quality.
10 might be fine, but adding 7 might exceed the tipping point....especially during integration.

My Wellie cock was a great bird. Breed doesn't always tell the true tale, much has to do with individual birds demeanor's and (maybe even more so) the demeanor's of the keepers when interacting with them.... not to mention the space they have.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Your coop is way too small for that many birds. Where are the nest boxes? Also, you didn't show your ventilation ports. I wouldn't keep more than 4 large chickens in there. In the winter when there's a foot or more of snow on the ground your chickens will not want to go out in that and will develop nasty behaviors out of boredom and tight spaces.