Should I get more hens for one of my roos?

[MamaB]

Up until this week my two roos have been getting along fine. Apparently, the 'teenage years' that I have heard of have begun now that my pullets have begun to lay. The roo who has made himself the dominate has been chasing the other around. I have been considering getting some more hens for the 'second in command' roo. The chickens live in a coop with an attached run that opens into a fenced in area that also has a goat barn. the chickens and goats all share this fenced in area. I let Ruben (the second roo) sleep in the goat barn and thought the new hens could live in the goat barn until everyone gets acquainted? Does this sound plausible? Any better ideas?

 

[AccioSarah]

How many hens do you have? I've heard that you want 9-11 hens for each roo. I don't personally have any roosters (not allowed in my city), but this is what I've heard around the boards!

 

[Intetdreamer]

Depends on the Rooster, I have one Silkie rooster that has 1 Silkie hen and he is happy as can be, the big Lavender Orp rooster looks after the others. The don't ever fight but judging on personality I am betting the Silkie would win in a fight...

I'd give it a try but there is no telling if the new hens would accept the beta rooster if they are all free ranging together.

 

[Edwards24]

Ive heard you want at least 10 hens to 1 roo. I have exactly this and only one roo so I can not say how well that would keep them from going after each other(the roos that is). I do know that it is good to have that many per roo because of the overmating aspect. That way they dont continue to mate with just one or two. Im sure it would probably help keep the tension down also with the two roos as it would give them something to do (no pun intended).

 

[MamaB]

There are 10 hens, so I guess some new hens are in order! I think I would keep the alpha roo in the coop and run with his hens for awhile and add the new hens to my beta roo and let them free range in the fenced in area and live in the goat barn. How long should it take before I can let them all free range together.
Oh, and looks like my two hen Pekin ducks are a pair instead.....unless a hen will mount another hen if there are only each other?!