Seeking opinions

[Rexy10]

I just ordered 15 chicks, they are supposed to be all females. I understand that determining the sex of a one-day-old chick has an accuracy rate of about 90 percent so I am anticipating that I could end up with 2 roosters (possibly more). My question is: If I divide my chicken yard do I need to have a solid barrier or is a chicken wire divider sufficient? The yard is about 440 sq ft so I know that they will have enough room even if the divide it into two sections. So does that seem like a good plan or do I need to set up another chicken yard and coop? Thanks in advance for any comments/advice

 

[Mrs. K]

Are you thinking that you will keep both roosters but separate them? I think at this stage you are over planning it, but while you are planning it, see if you can give away any roosters that you get.

If this is your first year with chickens, I recommend no roosters because roosters take a bit of experience. And regardless how you act or what you do, some roosters are more aggressive. I know you are trying to be proactive, and that is good, but on the chance of getting some roosters, see if you can give them away. Especially if you have children. Roosters tend to attack children first, then women, then men. A lot of inexperienced people underestimate how violent a rooster attack can be.

Personally, I think you have years to do this hobby, I vote, add roosters in a couple of years. I think you get nicer roosters when they are raised with older hens, who thump some manners into them.

^^ That is all the advice you didn't ask for. As for the advice you did....sometimes, sometimes two roosters will get along fine without separation, sometimes times they get along for a while, then begin to fight, sometimes they will live in separate pens, sometimes they will fight bloody through the fence. Roosters are crap shoot.

Mrs K

 

[Rexy10]

I'm actually hoping I don't get any roosters but... you never know. Like you said, it's a crap shoot. Luckily my kids are bigger than me so I don't think in the event I do end up with a rooster or two my kids should be safe. Thanks for your input

 

[aart]

Luckily my kids are bigger than me so I don't think in the event I do end up with a rooster or two my kids should be safe.

Depends.
Even big kids, and adults, need to know how to handle being around male livestock.

You'll have to decide if you do end up with a male or two...
.....do you really want to keep any of them.
So while you're planning, which is good IMO,
plan on how to get rid of the ones you don't want to keep.

Barriers/isolation areas inside a secure enclosure can be chicken wire.
Always good to have an isolation area, or wire crates, to separate birds that need it.
Areas and crates need to be where it's weather and predator proof.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Knowing why you think you might need to divide your run or set up another coop would help us offer suggestions that actually fit your situation. If we know what your concerns are we can address them and maybe give you options. There is a lot of conflicting information on this forum and the internet in general. We are all unique. We have different goals, set-ups, flocks, and so much more that makes what my best options are probably different from yours. Now to your question.

If I divide my chicken yard do I need to have a solid barrier or is a chicken wire divider sufficient?

Chicken wire will keep chickens in, out, or separated. Chicken wire will stop some predators. Some larger predators can tear through chicken wire. Many can climb over or dig under wire. But yes, chicken wire will keep chickens apart.

Or do you mean will roosters fight through chicken wire? That's a different concern and the one I think you are really asking. It's also not a clear cut answer. Some will, most won't. You don't get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors. Depending in your goals and concerns there can be ways around that. Different options.

Don't get too fixated on that 90%. That's their guarantee, whatever remediation they offer if they don't meet it. Those odds are on each chick, not the flock. You have no way of knowing if you will get zero or five cockerels in that shipment. Your odds are pretty good you will get one or two, but I once got 7 pullets out of a straight run order of 7 chicks, odds of less than 1 in 100. In that same order I got 15 chicks that were supposed to be female, one was a cockerel. Twice I ordered cockerels, 15 in one group and 20 in another. Every one was a cockerel. You never know what you will get. I think it is easier when they are doing the vent sexing to say, yes this is a boy than it is to say with certainty this is a girl.

Mainly out of curiosity but with an ulterior motive, what breeds are you getting and from where? If you are getting sex links your odds are a lot better than 90%.

 

[Rexy10]

Depends.
Even big kids, and adults, need to know how to handle being around male livestock.

You'll have to decide if you do end up with a male or two...
.....do you really want to keep any of them.
So while you're planning, which is good IMO,
plan on how to get rid of the ones you don't want to keep.

Barriers/isolation areas inside a secure enclosure can be chicken wire.
Always good to have an isolation area, or wire crates, to separate birds that need it.
Areas and crates need to be where it's weather and predator proof.

Thank you Great advice.

 

[Bookmole353]

Are you thinking that you will keep both roosters but separate them? I think at this stage you are over planning it, but while you are planning it, see if you can give away any roosters that you get.

If this is your first year with chickens, I recommend no roosters because roosters take a bit of experience. And regardless how you act or what you do, some roosters are more aggressive. I know you are trying to be proactive, and that is good, but on the chance of getting some roosters, see if you can give them away. Especially if you have children. Roosters tend to attack children first, then women, then men. A lot of inexperienced people underestimate how violent a rooster attack can be.

Personally, I think you have years to do this hobby, I vote, add roosters in a couple of years. I think you get nicer roosters when they are raised with older hens, who thump some manners into them.

^^ That is all the advice you didn't ask for. As for the advice you did....sometimes, sometimes two roosters will get along fine without separation, sometimes times they get along for a while, then begin to fight, sometimes they will live in separate pens, sometimes they will fight bloody through the fence. Roosters are crap shoot.

Mrs K

I didn’t want roosters at all. Well I ended up with close to 10. We dispatched 6-7 of them. Made good dinners. I ended up with four right now, 2 are scheduled for dispatch soon. That leaves our Brahma and one we call patches. The Brahma and I had our “rooster discussion” he decided I didn’t belong in his pen, well I grabbed a switch and when he came after me I kept using the switch in his face, never hitting hard enough to hurt him but enough to sting, after 3 sessions he decided, I was the queen of the pen. He no longer bothers me or any of the other roosters.

 

[Rexy10]

Knowing why you think you might need to divide your run or set up another coop would help us offer suggestions that actually fit your situation. If we know what your concerns are we can address them and maybe give you options. There is a lot of conflicting information on this forum and the internet in general. We are all unique. We have different goals, set-ups, flocks, and so much more that makes what my best options are probably different from yours. Now to your question.

If I divide my chicken yard do I need to have a solid barrier or is a chicken wire divider sufficient?

Chicken wire will keep chickens in, out, or separated. Chicken wire will stop some predators. Some larger predators can tear through chicken wire. Many can climb over or dig under wire. But yes, chicken wire will keep chickens apart.

Or do you mean will roosters fight through chicken wire? That's a different concern and the one I think you are really asking. It's also not a clear cut answer. Some will, most won't. You don't get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors. Depending in your goals and concerns there can be ways around that. Different options.

Don't get too fixated on that 90%. That's their guarantee, whatever remediation they offer if they don't meet it. Those odds are on each chick, not the flock. You have no way of knowing if you will get zero or five cockerels in that shipment. Your odds are pretty good you will get one or two, but I once got 7 pullets out of a straight run order of 7 chicks, odds of less than 1 in 100. In that same order I got 15 chicks that were supposed to be female, one was a cockerel. Twice I ordered cockerels, 15 in one group and 20 in another. Every one was a cockerel. You never know what you will get. I think it is easier when they are doing the vent sexing to say, yes this is a boy than it is to say with certainty this is a girl.

Mainly out of curiosity but with an ulterior motive, what breeds are you getting and from where? If you are getting sex links your odds are a lot better than 90%.

I ordered the "Rainbow Assortment" that says could be rare breeds and even some Leghorns. I am assuming I will get mostly Easter Eggers. I have heard that the EE roosters are generally pretty docile (for roosters) so I wouldn't mind keeping one. The chicks are coming from Cackle Hatchery. I was going to order from My Pet Chicken but the EEs were all sold out until Sept or Oct. I didn't want to wait that long. Have you ever dealt with Cackle Hatchery before?
Thanks for your input.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Cackle's Rainbow assortment is talking about feather color, not egg color. That's in the first line of their write-up. That's a common misconception, probably because of their egg photo with that ad. That's happened before on here.

They never know how many eggs will actually hatch or how many will be female. The rainbow assortment is whatever egg-laying breeds or crosses where they have extra pullets. Their only guarantee is that it will be at least three different breeds, possibly more. There is no reason to expect leghorns or EE's more than any other breed. Could be anything. They should try to mix feather colors. They should not be all black, all red, or all white.

I got a bunch of chicks from Cackle several years back. all chicks arrived alive and in good health. They sent what I asked for. I did call them once about something. It took forever to get someone to answer the phone but when they did they were polite and helpful. I'd certainly deal with them again.

 

[Rexy10]

Ok Thanks