Roosters and hens, how many is too many?

[Kwoodward]

Having the older girls is a big help. Many time first year people have all pullets and roosters being raised together. Older birds do educate the younger birds, and in my opinion raise up nicer roosters. I would not keep more than one rooster. If you have children, I would not keep any of them. I am just glad you have a way of getting rid of them. Many people on here do not.

In a year, you and your family (if you have one) will have more experience. Then add a rooster, or raise one up. Roosters take experience.

I don't have children and won't ever haha! Fur and feathers babies only.
I'm not worried about keeping a rooster. I handle my birds daily, on my terms not theirs. I wanted to add a rooster to hopefully do a little "free ranging." That and keep peace between my girls.
I keep reading, unfortunately a lot of books are focused on production and less on pet ownership.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is so hard to give advice. One tends to give it based on assumptions. Having older hens, no kids, and some experience does change things. I still would only recommend one rooster, but it is often a good idea to remove who you don't want, wait and see a bit, then cull again. But under no circumstances would I keep all four, and really I would only keep one if he truly turns out nice.

Mrs K

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I would also recommend 1 rooster. They will hurt and over mate the hens, and end up fighting with each other. Your better off homing them now.

 

[Kwoodward]

It is so hard to give advice. One tends to give it based on assumptions. Having older hens, no kids, and some experience does change things. I still would only recommend one rooster, but it is often a good idea to remove who you don't want, wait and see a bit, then cull again. But under no circumstances would I keep all four, and really I would only keep one if he truly turns out nice.

Mrs K[/QUOTE

Here lies the problem, I have to rehome. I can't cull. I'm not nieve to think someone else won't make dinner of my cockerels, I just can't do it.
Thanks for the input, I was pretty sure I was going to have to get down to one cockerel, I was just surprised my guys were doing well together. They even cuddle.

 

[333113]

You won't know if 4 roosters can work things out until they do...or don't. That's why it's important to have a Plan B.

If you were talking about a flock of all Nankins or all d'Uccles, in my experience, I would say, no problem keeping all eight together.

However, bantam breeds are an exception, since the flock mentality has not been bred out of most of them.

If you have a mix of breeds, you don't necessarily know what traits were selected for in breeding. Plan B, Plan C, Plan D...

Be aware, too, that a flock of four pullets of mixed breeds can be awfully cruel to the pullet (or hen) at the bottom of the pecking order. Again Plan B (isolate the hen most picked on).

 

[aart]

I have a cockerel picked out to keep and an auction barn down the road and a dog crate for the others, if any aggression pops up.

Sounds like a great plan!