Should I move my rooster?

[bittlesbirds]

I have a couple of questions. I inherited 6 hens and a rooster do to my dad having health issues they came with the coop as seen. One of the RIR fights with the rooster when he try's to mate (pictured here) should I move one of them? Are her feathers ok or should I be worried? I have read that ideally roosters need at least 10 hens, should I get some more chicks?

 

[Mrs. K]

You could get more chicks, but really would need to keep them separate from this flock for about 4 months. Some roo's are rough, and the hens get ragged. I think it bothers people more than it bothers hens.

You really don't need a rooster unless you are breeding for chicks, or extensively free range. Many times hens are happier without a roo. If this is your first real experience with chickens, I think it works better to start with a hen only flock. Roos take some experience in my viewpoint.

Mrs K

 

[Fred's Hens]

You could get more chicks, but really would need to keep them separate from this flock for about 4 months. Some roo's are rough, and the hens get ragged. I think it bothers people more than it bothers hens.

You really don't need a rooster unless you are breeding for chicks, or extensively free range. Many times hens are happier without a roo. If this is your first real experience with chickens, I think it works better to start with a hen only flock. Roos take some experience in my viewpoint.

Mrs K

Good points. Unless you really wish to breed and hatch chicks from him, he is of limited use to you. You'll have to consider whether you need/want a rooster. Getting chicks is a loooooooong range solution to provide for more balance in your flock's ratio. It would be Thanksgiving time before those chicks would be old enough to provide him with some distraction, plus, you'd very likely get a cockerel or two amidst the new chicks which would created its own issues.

 

[bittlesbirds]

I am picking up some fencing supplies later tis week to keep them out of the vegetable garden and then they will be free range, I hoped to breed him at some point in the future I would like to have a self sustaining flock. Is it possible for a newbie to raise and keep a Rooster or am I just going to end up over my head?

 

[Mrs. K]

It depends largely on how lucky you are..... Most of us have had good roos, soso roos, and horrible roos. It can be done, but with any new project, there is a learning curve.

If the roo starts puffing up at you, or offering you a tidbit, get rid of the boy till you get some more experience. Roo's are crap shoot.

Good luck, Mrs K