roosters and hens together?

[jcasey829]

I have 3 roosters and 4 hens (yeah I got the bad luck of the draw with "pullets"). 1 rooster is a NewHampshire 1 is a silkie and one is an OEG bantam. My hens are 1 NewHampshire 1 Black Cochin 2 Plymouth Rocks. They are in a coop but I let them free range during the day. They are 17 weeks old give or take a day or two. Yesterday I caught all 3 roosters trying to "mate" one of my hens. First question, am I close to having eggs? Second question should I kick the boys out of the coop? I noticed my NewHampshire rooster fighting (?) my silkie. My heart doesnt want to part with any of them as they are great little friendly guys, but my head wonders if I should give them the boot since we have fighting and sorry to say it this way, but having "chicken gang bangs" on my hens. Of course I'm a newbie to chickens so I want to do what's right.

Can I kick the roosters out of the coop and let them 24hour free range? I wouldn't mind my NewHampshires hooking up and having some chicks, but I also want to keep most of the eggs for consumption. Wow, I need some chicken experts to give me some advice! lol If you have any insight/help I would appreciate your expertise.

Thanks so much!

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Rooster's will fight for the hen. I have many full time free range bird's and each roo has his group of hen's and he will protect them. If another roo tries to mate with that roo's hen's they will fight. You will probably have to seperate the roo's. I am alway's building pen's for this problem. I think you have some time before you get egg's. My hen's that were born here last spring didn't start to lay until the weather broke this year but I don't think it's alway's that long before they lay. I know in the winter they need more hour's of daylight before they will lay. Being your's are already 17wks. old maybe you will get some this year. Good luck. PEACE

 

[farm_mom]

Oh yeah, way too many roos for 4 hens. They'll really be trying to kill one another come spring if you don't separate them. I have gotten eggs as early as 16 weeks before, so it is entirely possible that you'll be getting eggs soon. Good luck!

 

[jcasey829]

update
after observing them for quite sometime, i realized they are just going after one hen. she has wounds on her neck and she is hiding from them. the bantams arent really being overly aggressive with her, but the new hampshire is really going after her. could he just dislike her? could it be she is ready to lay so he has an attraction to her? should i kick the roosters out of the coop at night? i read somewhere on here that the roosters will protect their ladies, so i don't want to take him away if it's not necessary. help

thanks

 

[morelcabin]

You should only have one rooster for every 4-8 hens, otherwise the hens will get abused. They will pick thier favourate and won't leave her alone until she is dead if you leave it as is. If you want to keep one rooster that is fine, but get rid of two of them

 

[jcasey829]

well, i just went out and checked on my plymouth rock and noticed her eyes were all cloudy and i think shes blind. i dont know if its from him beating up on her or what but i kicked the aggressive roo out of the coop. hopefully we can get something built tomorrow and put him and my other new hampshire together, bc shes freaking out now that i kicked him out

god this is stressing me out. i've become so attached to them all

hopefully she'll make it, but i guess she'll struggle now that she cant see.

when you all say you free range your chickens do you mean you leave them out all day and night? is it safe for them. i just feel better having them in somewhere safe at night. will the rooster be ok free ranging all day and night? i guess if not i'll probably be losing 2 of my babies... oh so sad i'm gonna cry