GreenHaven
Songster
I have been keeping chickens for only a few years, so I could use some advice from those with more experience. I have a young flock of Australorp - 5 months old. I have 14 hens, and started with 4 roosters so I could be choosy about which I keep. I have removed one (he was aggressive with me), and now have three which is too many for the hens. Of the three, one is wry tailed, so he can't be allowed to breed, but he is the flock leader and seems to be the best behaviorally. One is somewhat slow maturing and is on the timid side, but has no serious defects. The third has no serious defects and matured quickly, so he was the one I was thinking could be breedable, but he is overly "hormonal" and far too rough with the hens. I found two hens with the feathers pulled out of the backs of their necks over the last week, and the skin was actually torn on one. I was thinking he was to blame, but not certain. I thought perhaps he might calm down given a little time, so I moved him to another flock of older 2 year old hens (no other roosters) so that he might learn some manners from them. That was a few days ago. They free range during the day so they have a lot of space. Today I found one of those hens with the side of her head slightly bloodied - so now I regret putting him in there, but I feel pretty sure he is to blame for the others as well. I have isolated him from the others and am unsure what to do with him. I have room for three roosters, I think. Two for the flock of 14 hens, and one for the flock of 7. I think I should keep the wry tailed rooster but not breed him, because he is doing a good job.
So the big question - should the rough rooster be freezer bound? Or do I give him time to mature on his own or with the timid rooster. I could clip their wings and put them in another pen.
Thanks for reading. Any advice is appreciated.
So the big question - should the rough rooster be freezer bound? Or do I give him time to mature on his own or with the timid rooster. I could clip their wings and put them in another pen.
Thanks for reading. Any advice is appreciated.
