Six 5-wk pullets, unexpected roo, should I add pullets?

[allpeepedout]

One of my pullets turned out a roo. New to chicken keeping, but thinking of keeping the roo. I'm reading that a rooster should have 8-10 hens to reduce "wear and tear" on the ladies. Now I'm very concerned about my pullets not being overly used or abused. Is it too late to get another couple of chicks to try to add two hens to the flock? The cockerel is BR and so far very sweet. I am handling him a lot. I read they can be gentlemen with the ladies, but also some of my pullets are small EEs.

I don't really want to increase the flock size... but, should chicken math rule? Easier to integrate new ones now than later?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you could find some 6 week old chicks, but near day old chicks would not be recommended. At this age, it is an unfair fight and the older birds have grow too large and bonded into a kind of pecking order already. If you really want to add a pullet or two, find a pullet or two (recommend always integrating at least 2) within the next month of similar age birds. Sometimes tough to do. BTW, unless he's a real idiot, 5 hens is just fine. If he's that crazed, you'll have to deal with him anyhow.

 

[allpeepedout]

Thanks. That's reassuring. Hopefully the BR reputation is for real.

I have a freind who wants my roo if it doesn't work out -- I just have to drive him from the midwest to Colorado, as she wants him "personally delivered."

 

[Mattemma]

I got 6 EEs and one turned out to be a roo too. I also had 3 RSL hens. I figured they would be fine.Sadly he died as a teen so I never got to find out. And go figure I have hens that have lost feathers on their heads/body anyway. Chickens can be so aggresive at times. Watch craigs.I see a lot of posts where people get chickens,but legally can not keep them. I got rid of 3 teen hens that were too mean. Always something being posted.

Lol, I would take your roo too. I miss what could have been.

 

[allpeepedout]

Sorry about your loss. I would much rather personally deliver mine to Ohio from Indiana.

I'm more into rehoming than eating, as a vegetarian. I didn't want a rooster, but I'm beginning to understand that the girls may enjoy his attentions especially to security, as part of the normal chicken social structure. And we have hawks.

Perhaps a nunnery was not in the stars!

He's been a doll, pre-hormones. He is very male and big at 5 weeks, super friendly, loves to lapsit and be petted.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Each chicken has its own personality and each flock has its own dynamics. It is hard to say exactly what will happen with yours, but we can tell you what might happen. Let me give you three threads to read. There is some repetition, but I think they give several different people's opinions and experiences and that they contain some good information.

On the 10 to 1 ratio. That is purely for fertility purposes. A full sized rooster should be able to keep that many hens fertile. Some people have three roosters with two hens and the hens are not worn out, while other people have 18 to 20 hens with one rooster and some hens are worn out. I agree that the more hens you have with a rooster the less likely you are to have this problem, but there is no magic ratio that will keep this potential problem away.

I'll also give a link on integration that might help you. I think Buff's article is pretty good.

Number of roosters thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219443

Managing multiple roosters
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=229968

Breeders managing roosters
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=250327

Buff’s Integration
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[teach1rusl]

Here's wishing that your little cockerel grows up to be a sweet, mannerly rooster with his girls and with your family...

 

[allpeepedout]

Thanks so much. Will study threads. Seems individual and variable. I realize now I planned to worry about "the rooster issue" only if it became a reality, so here I am. And my expectations of watching my beautiful flock did not include amorous or violent encounters. Ah, such is life. The whole tamale.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
Honestly, I never intended to have a roo. I do not breed, so I didn't want the added hassle. Wouldn't you know it... I got a roo in my last batch of sexed pullets. He is unpleasant (to say the least), untrustworthy, very rough on his girls (he has 18 girls so why do 10 girls have bare backs?), and so aggressive that I am culling him ASAP. I gave him plenty of time to mellow out, but he is still a big jerk, so he's gone.

I would not plan on keeping your roo until you see what he is going to be like. Hens are great, but roos can be a major challenge. I worked with mine to make him tolerable to me, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him with anyone else. He has beaten up his ladies to the point that I cannot keep him any more. I keep chickens for eggs, but mostly because I love the sight of my beautiful ladies wandering around my property. The roo has destroyed their lovely feathers and is constantly harassing them. I realized how bad roos could be, but this one has given me an up close and personal view of what a bad roo can do to a flock.

I hope yours turns out better than mine has. Good luck.

 

[allpeepedout]

CMV, sorry to hear about your situation. So abundant hens is not necessarily a preventative or solution, as I see also on the threads referenced. Hope you can restore peace in your flock. Do you mind my asking the breed of your roo (knowing that within any breed are individuals of different character)? Is he fully mature?

At any rate, thanks for the kind thoughts. I'll let it play out. If we can get through the teenage years...