Rooster help! How many is appropriate?

[WilsonFarm]

Yesterday, I found that of our small backyard flock of 10 chickens... 5 are roos!

We have a Dark Brahma (mixed) and 4 Barred Rock mixes. (One is a rock/easter egger, I'd say!)

Today, I have a gentleman coming to pick up the 4 Rocks, as we are keeping our Brahma. We have kids and he seems the best pick for breed personality.

My question is: Would it be a bad idea to keep a second rooster? The Brahma is especially close with one of the Rocks. They were all raised from eggs together -- they're classroom chicks! All are approx. 4 months old at this time. Right now, they are all quite docile and lovey. I'm sure this will change as they mature... but I wondered how the Brahma and his Rock friend might fare together as they are always together and close right now.

We have 5 pullets -- but come the Spring, we plan to add more with the loss of so many birds. I realize 5 pullets for even 1 rooster isn't ideal -- Would it be wiser to keep just the one and add more ladies to our flock when they're available?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've kept two cockerels with six pullets over winter until deciding the breeding cock in spring. The girls did fine, only one bird started getting bare back and neck. That was only happening come spring as their hormones peak with warm weather.

It will depend on the individual personalities of the cockerels if they will over mate the girls and if they are gentle at it. Some cocks hold on by grabbing hackle feathers and don't get over that behavior. Bottom line is you wont know until you try. If culling birds is not your thing I'd let the person take all but one of the cockerels now so you wont have to worry about getting rid of one later.

 

[donrae]

I'd say if you have someone to take the mixes now, go ahead and get rid of them, and keep only the one male. Fewer roosters are always better.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would go with getting rid of all of them. Get a hen flock up and going first. Let them grow up without a juvenile rooster driving them crazy. One can ALWAYS find roosters.

If you added a rooster next fall, after your spring chicks are ready for him, that would be very good.

Mrs K