Roosters getting very aggressive with hens-should I get more hens?

[colin2]

Hi. This is our first time with chickens. We only have 6 and 2 turned out to be roosters. They are Buff Orpingtons and the hens are a mix. They are almost 20 weeks old and the roosters seem to be attacking the hens (especially 2 of them) all day long. They go together to do it too-the roosters rarely fight each other! They have free range, but they just go after them constantly. Its gotten so bad that 2 of the hens won't go in the coop at night and try to roost in a tree instead. I feel terrible for the hens, but at the same time don't want to kill the roosters bc I raised them from chicks. We plan on getting three more hens to even out the ratio a bit-but that would still be 2 roosters with 7 hens. Is this just too many roosters? Do they go through an aggressive phase and might calm down soon? Thanks!

 

[chickenboy1400]

Sadly it sounds like you'll have to get rid of one of you're roosters. the hens are most likely being peaked by both the roosters, and as for the roosters fighting each other.......you'll come out one day, and one will be dead or badly hurt. sorry

find a good home for the one you don't want and the flock should settle down

 

[colin2]

Sorry for the mistake-I think I was autocorrected...the roosters RARELY fight-not fairly fight.

 

[Den in Penn]

Being raised together, they grew up with an established order and will rarely fight. Till something upsets that order. It sounds as if they are ganging up on the hens. Not good. I would separate them from the hens to give the hens some peace. The ratio is a little light with the hens. Yes they go through a aggressive teenage phase. They do calm down when they get about 12 to 14 months old.

 

[donrae]

You have a responsibility to your hens to provide a safe environment for them. You need to pull the roosters off them and confine them seperately until you get more hens or decide to cull a rooster. Even 7 hens is quite a lot for 2 roosters, especially young virile roos exploding with hormones.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Do you intend to breed them? If not, get rid of both the roosters. Hopefully you can find a home for them, but in the end, they'll probably have to be killed. Personally, I'd eat them. I could stand that a lot better than watching my poor hens get bullied around forever by a rooster.

 

[chickenboy1400]

Sorry for the mistake-I think I was autocorrected...the roosters RARELY fight-not fairly fight.

nope sorry i read it wrong it says rarely..........sorry again

 

[colin2]

No, it was me. I corrected the original. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[colin2]

Thanks everyone. It seems like they are OK during the day, but then become crazy around dusk. Is there something to that?

 

[Ted n Ms]

Thanks everyone. It seems like they are OK during the day, but then become crazy around dusk. Is there something to that?

Yeah mine done the same thing for a while. They will settle down in a few weeks.