Rooster count

[C Siena]

We have 10 hens, 1 roo in a coop and the other is 9 hens, 1 roo, 13 pullets and 3 cockerels, age 20 wks & 17 wks, all cockerels are 17 wks. One cockerel has tried to mount a couple of pullets, but they yell and the senior runs over and cockerel runs away. Great senior roo. A teaching moment

I'm thinking of keeping one of the cockerels, which would make a total of 3 males and 32 females. I will watch to see how things go. The cockerels were raised in the coop with Jr roo, who is 15 months old. 2 of the cockerels are probably the progeny of Senior roo (Buckeye).

If you keep more than 2 cockerels, watch them and their behavior.

 

[Vicker]

I've had various breeds and flock numbers over the years, with all the free-range space they want. The individual roosters and the flock at the time tell me when multiples are too much. Years ago, I had a flock of 28 Sumatra with 3 roosters that did fine. They respected the top rooster and coexisted smoothly. On the other hand, I recently had 2 roosters to 18 hens in a mixed flock that did okay for a year and a half, but Rooster 2 became so randy that he was chasing the girls all day. His mild-mannered father was even getting stressed. The flock is so much more peaceful now, so I know culling was the right decision. Funny thing, one of my Australorps fluffed up and pretended to be a mama hen whenever she saw him coming. He fell for it because there were 2 real mamas that looked just like her. When he passed her by, she settled her feathers back down and went on her way.

 

[ND Flowergirl]

I'm curious what everyone's rooster to hen ratio is. I have 14 chickens and unfortunately, 4 roosters. Two are kept free range outside the coop and two are in the coop with the girls. The two in the coop are still young, and so are the pullets. I want them to eventually be able to free range during the day, but im curious if four roosters can work or if it is impossible since I don't have enough hens.

36 hens 3 roosters, and 5 turkeys all together.

 

[Silkiemom1228]

Too many Roos here any suggestions?

 

[Mrs. K]

Too many Roos here any suggestions?

An ugly and very hard part of keeping chickens is the roosters. And almost all of the solutions require a fair bit of luck. The truth is, they are a crap shoot, need more space than hens, and often times do not turn out. So you can:

• Keep them with your flock. IF YOU HAVE A HUGE amount of space. You need to remember winter is coming, and while they may not be locked in a small space, blizzards tend to keep them in a small space. So while this may work in the summer, it may stop working in the winter.
• You can build a bachelor's quarters. This sounds like an expensive idea, but a perfect solution. And it is...until it isn't. Some roosters live well with other roosters, some do for a while, and some start to fight, settle it, and do well, and some will fight until one or more of them are dead or so severely injured they have to be put down. They don't call it cock fighting for nothing.
• You can re-home them. In an ideal world, they would go to someone's very large free ranging world, and live with their own favorite hens forever. In reality, once they leave you they are no longer your responsibility, and you do not make decisions for them. They can be used as described, or for supper.
• Or you can cull them yourself. It eliminates the problem in the flock. You can eat them, feed them to other animals or bury them and plant a rose bush.

The worst thing you can do, is nothing. Too many roosters are very hard on flocks. They can cause damage to themselves, to people and to hens.

Mrs K

 

[Silkiemom1228]

An ugly and very hard part of keeping chickens is the roosters. And almost all of the solutions require a fair bit of luck. The truth is, they are a crap shoot, need more space than hens, and often times do not turn out. So you can:

• Keep them with your flock. IF YOU HAVE A HUGE amount of space. You need to remember winter is coming, and while they may not be locked in a small space, blizzards tend to keep them in a small space. So while this may work in the summer, it may stop working in the winter.
• You can build a bachelor's quarters. This sounds like an expensive idea, but a perfect solution. And it is...until it isn't. Some roosters live well with other roosters, some do for a while, and some start to fight, settle it, and do well, and some will fight until one or more of them are dead or so severely injured they have to be put down. They don't call it cock fighting for nothing.
• You can re-home them. In an ideal world, they would go to someone's very large free ranging world, and live with their own favorite hens forever. In reality, once they leave you they are no longer your responsibility, and you do not make decisions for them. They can be used as described, or for supper.
• Or you can cull them yourself. It eliminates the problem in the flock. You can eat them, feed them to other animals or bury them and plant a rose bush.

The worst thing you can do, is nothing. Too many roosters are very hard on flocks. They can cause damage to themselves, to people and to hens.

Mrs K

Thank you! Seems I have some decisions to make!
Tough to cull silkies, frizzles and showgirls

 

[Mrs. K]

It is hard even when they are just mutts. Solving for peace in the flock is worth it in the long run. But I will be the first to admit, it is easy to put off, even when you KNOW you need to do it.

 

[Yardmom]

Coop 1. 26 hens 4 roos. Due to some penning during breeding season one boy currently stays his distance from the flock. He is still able to come into roost.

In the past I have had 5 roos in this coop at once. It was fine as the flock master at the time kept tabs on everyone's behavior. At one time one of the roos took on the job of body guard to the flock master as he aged. When the body guard was taken by a predator just outside the coop door the whole rooster hierarchy went through a redo.

Coop #2 25 hens 6 Silkie roosters and a cockerel. I do need to clean up roos in this coop, but older roos tend to push 1 younger roo and Cockerel to the side. Meaning the young birds are allowed to eat ect with the flock but when out and about they stay at a distance.

 

[Silkiemom1228]

It is hard even when they are just mutts. Solving for peace in the flock is worth it in the long run. But I will be the first to admit, it is easy to put off, even when you KNOW you need to do it.

Very true about “mutts”
And yes I do know what I need to do, I dare not share numbers( of roosters vs hens)

 

[Silkiemom1228]

Coop 1. 26 hens 4 roos. Due to some penning during breeding season one boy currently stays his distance from the flock. He is still able to come into roost.

In the past I have had 5 roos in this coop at once. It was fine as the flock master at the time kept tabs on everyone's behavior. At one time one of the roos took on the job of body guard to the flock master as he aged. When the body guard was taken by a predator just outside the coop door the whole rooster hierarchy went through a redo.

Coop #2 25 hens 6 Silkie roosters and a cockerel. I do need to clean up roos in this coop, but older roos tend to push 1 younger roo and Cockerel to the side. Meaning the young birds are allowed to eat ect with the flock but when out and about they stay at a distance.

Ya I have 10 hens, 2 Roos (full size ) in coop 1
Coop 2 ,18 silkie variety hens, 7 Roos
Coop 3,2 hens 2 Roos
Coop 3 brooding area I smartened up and bought pullets instead of incubating , which I love doing, but I can’t control what I get