Roos and Hens

[dreamer5577]

Here is my situation. Last year I hatched a bunch of eggs and then kept a few chicks after. Two ended up being roos and I only have 4 hens. So I kept on roo with the hens and the other has his own little bachelor pad. This year, I wanted to add a few girls to the flock, but with the tractor supply limit of 6, I may have to get six. If I get six new chicks, do you think I could later incorporate them to the flock and add my bachelor roo? Do you think the roos would still fight (they fight through the fence now)? What are your suggestions?

 

[Judy]

Their instinct is to fight as long as hens are present. Generally, it's not all that serious, though. It's the hens who can be really vicious to newcomers.

 

[PrairieChickens]

If they're trying to fight through the fence, they'll fight if they're together. It could be completely superficial and cause no harm, or they could cause each other serious harm. You'd be better off just giving the "bachelor" his own ladies than trying to integrate them now.

Some roosters can coexist, some can't. I've had 11 roosters together in the same pen with hens at one point with no bloodshed, but that is not common. Usually there's at least one rooster who wants to cause a fuss.

 

[bobbi-j]

If they're trying to fight through the fence, they'll fight if they're together. It could be completely superficial and cause no harm, or they could cause each other serious harm. You'd be better off just giving the "bachelor" his own ladies than trying to integrate them now.

Some roosters can coexist, some can't. I've had 11 roosters together in the same pen with hens at one point with no bloodshed, but that is not common. Usually there's at least one rooster who wants to cause a fuss.

x2

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Roosters that grow up together don't fight, that's been my experience. I've had up to 5 running together. One will become the dominate rooster and the others respect that. Often times I've had lower ranked roosters that don't even crow.

 

[Judy]

Roosters that grow up together don't fight, that's been my experience. I've had up to 5 running together. One will become the dominate rooster and the others respect that. Often times I've had lower ranked roosters that don't even crow.

This is how it's always gone here -- but let's face it, we're not talking about a lot of years of experience -- I really can't say, maybe 10 or 15.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

True Judy. I've had chickens for 10 years--not a great amount of time! Looking forward to 20 years more though!