Rooster management question - need some advice!!

[bethrich]

I have 3 roosters, 2 that were given to me and 1 that my hens hatched. I have a friend who raises chickens on his farm who will give one or more of my roosters a good home...and given the fighting of the 2 brothers who were given to me (australope mix - BEAUTIFUL birds) I need to thin out the rooster gang.

Here is my questions...Do I keep Waylon, the biggest, loudest rooster who is clearly in charge of the flock of 12 hens but a bit aggressive and give away his brother Willie, who is smaller, less agreesive and quieter??? OR keep the quieter, milder one...

What about my own rooster, Jack, who is a bantam blue cochin/auracauna mix, quiet, small, fairly mild mannered and just starting to show some mature tendencies (born July 1). I hate to give away the 1st chick we hatched here. Would he be ok with the big rooster in charge? Would he take over the flock if I gave away both big boys???

Some advice?? ANyone??? I ahve never had so mnay roosters...

thanks, as always.

Beth

 

[@migocontodos~]

I'd keep the one I liked most UNLESS it was the aggressive one.
There is no room on this 50 acres for anything aggressive, especially with the kids being here on the farm too!
Todd

 

[Mahonri]

Give away the two big roos and keep the one you hatched.

Ur, that's what I'd do anyway.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

If you opt to loose the biggest and meanest one, one of the others will step up and be the flockmaster. It's their job!

 

[M@M@2four]

Well, I understand your dilemma! I would find the 2 fighting brother a new home, keep your big boy(the flock keeper), and keep your bantam roo. We have a large RIR roo who is our flock keeper and a little bantam roo(and several others), but they all just get along fine--they'll have the occasional bump into each other or fight, but they usually learn to get along. Good luck!

 

[Marlinchaser]

You can have more than 1 roo, as long as you give the lesser roos an escape route. In other words if they have to stay together in a confined space I would keep just one, but if they have plenty of room, and can be away from each other you should be fine, Also I have found that if they were raised together they are more tolerant of each other(maybe they establish pecking order at an early age and stick with that)

 

[cmom]

I agree with Mahonri. I would get rid of the two Roo's that were given to you and keep the one you hatched.

 

[bethrich]

this has been so helpful, everyone - thank you!

The youngest roo - the one that I hatched - is 6 months old -is that too young to give the flock some leadership, though?

 

[the1much]

what are you using your roo for?
pet = get rid of the big ones
protection = keep the aggressive
breeding = keep the aggressive
1 to "tell" your girls what to do = keep the aggressive
if you cant "handle" an aggressive roo ,, keep the "baby" lol

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Quote:
Six months is when you should start to see him exercise his control or dominance. He will not do that if there is another boss roo.