So.. a little bit of info. We are new to raising chickens, my daughters kindergarten class hatched eggs for science. A friend of ours gave her class 9 fertilized eggs and a neighbor gave 3. In June we had 9 chicks come home with us. Eight of which were from the friend, half Buff Orpington, half White Crested Black Polish. One of the three from the neighbor a Rhoade Island Red. Turns out we ended up with 5 roosters and 4 hens all 5 roosters came from the half and half breed.
Long story short 2 of the roosters have just now started crowing in the past couple weeks. These two particular roosters are also mounting the hens. The Hens scream as though they are being raped and it is a devastating sound that makes me go running outside to see if they are being eaten.
Anyhow.. my questions: First approximately when will my hens start laying, I have three of the half and half and one red? Second does the roosters mounting the hens make a difference when they will lay? Third we plan on keeping two of the roosters, is this a good idea? We are going to hatch a few chicks in hopes of getting more hens.
Long story short 2 of the roosters have just now started crowing in the past couple weeks. These two particular roosters are also mounting the hens. The Hens scream as though they are being raped and it is a devastating sound that makes me go running outside to see if they are being eaten.
Anyhow.. my questions: First approximately when will my hens start laying, I have three of the half and half and one red? Second does the roosters mounting the hens make a difference when they will lay? Third we plan on keeping two of the roosters, is this a good idea? We are going to hatch a few chicks in hopes of getting more hens.