Small young flock advice

[Estrella77]

I was planning to have 4-5 hens-- new to chickens and our main goal is pets, with the bonus of eggs. Now it looks like 1 or 2 of the 5 may be roos.
Question is:
1-Do you recommend trying to keep one rooster? (Definitely won't keep 2 and I think I have a home for one). We have a rule against animals making incessant noise but I found out from some people in my township they have roosters without a problem... So maybe if neighbors don't complain I can keep 1.
2- And if not, is 3 hens sad?
3- If you recommend more hens to either get the number above 3 OR bc 1 rooster/3 hens is a bad ratio, when is the easiest time to integrate? My current chicks are 4 weeks old, but I'd like to wait until I know for sure. Can I integrate 2-3 new chicks in October say, when the others will be about 5 months old and newer chicks are 6 weeks? Or get through the (cold Pennsylvania) winter w 3 hens and then add 3 more next spring?
My coop is only 4x6 bc I was planning on 4-5 chickens so Id rather not get more now in case I luck out and these 5 are gals!
Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. I personally don't want roosters but a few things to consider: How close are the neighbors? How good of terms are you with them? If a neighbor does complain what would be the plan at that time?

2. 3 hens is still a flock, just a very small one.

3. I think most folks would say the best time for integration is when it's warm enough that chicks/young birds won't struggle to keep warm. Mid-late spring tends to be the most popular time for adding chicks for that reason.

Given your plans on having 4-5 total with some desire for eggs, I would play it by ear for now and if it turns out you need to rehome some boys, then plan on adding new girls next year. The reason for that is to spread out the ages of the birds so you get a little more consistent egg laying, given that chickens are most productive in their first 18-24 months and begin tapering off after that.

 

[Estrella77]

Thanks so much for your advice.

My neighbors are sweethearts. We have a little under 2 acres so we have a little space and if they're crowing inside the coop maybe we won't here? Either side, we are very close and I would warn them ahead of time and tell them to let me know if it's interrupting their sleep, in which case I'd have to find a new home. If it's only one total I have a possible home, if it's 2 roosters and the second one needs to go also then I'd try our facebook group and see if I can find a person that seems like they won't eat him!

I like the wait a year plan. As long as at least 3 are hens!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks so much for your advice.

My neighbors are sweethearts. We have a little under 2 acres so we have a little space and if they're crowing inside the coop maybe we won't here?

Depending on how much tree and plant cover is in the way, but they'll probably hear them, even if it's a bit muted. My neighbor has about 3-4 acres and I have 4, and I learned they had 3 roosters from listening to them crow. But we can't hear them inside the house so it doesn't bother me.

Either side, we are very close and I would warn them ahead of time and tell them to let me know if it's interrupting their sleep, in which case I'd have to find a new home. If it's only one total I have a possible home, if it's 2 roosters and the second one needs to go also then I'd try our facebook group and see if I can find a person that seems like they won't eat him!

I like the wait a year plan. As long as at least 3 are hens!

Sounds like a plan, both with possible roosters and for adding hens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1-Do you recommend trying to keep one rooster? (Definitely won't keep 2 and I think I have a home for one). We have a rule against animals making incessant noise but I found out from some people in my township they have roosters without a problem... So maybe if neighbors don't complain I can keep 1.

I recommend you follow your goals. Why would you keep a boy? How does that fit your reasons for having chickens?

My general recommendation is that you keep as few males as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed more problems with more males but because the more males you have the more likely you are to have problems, some potentially serious. For some people that can be multiple boys, some people only one, and for many people, none. The only reason you need a rooster is for fertile eggs. Anything else is personal preference. It is your goals that count, not mine.

One danger is that some roosters can be human aggressive. Some are not. A human aggressive rooster can make your life miserable or even cause injury, especially to young kids.

2- And if not, is 3 hens sad?

This is the other danger. I don't believe in those ratios you see on here. Some people can have problems with one rooster and over 25 hens. Others have no problems with only 2 or 3 hens. One concern is that some hens become so barebacked the claws or spurs can cut the hens skin drawing blood. That can lead to serious injury. There are other potential problems that ratios also do not solve.

Your biggest time of danger is adolescence. That's when the boy's hormones are running wild and the girls have not matured enough to do their part. If you can get through adolescence to where they are all mature many of these problems go away but even that does not always solve all problems. In the meantime you can have the risk of injured or dead chickens. Most of us navigate this time OK but a risk is there.

3- If you recommend more hens to either get the number above 3 OR bc 1 rooster/3 hens is a bad ratio, when is the easiest time to integrate?

If you want more girls, then get more girls and integrate them. If you are only getting more girls to solve ratio problems, don't bother. It often does not solve any problems with a cockerel/rooster and you have made things more complicated because on top of everything else you now have to manage an integration.

My current chicks are 4 weeks old, but I'd like to wait until I know for sure. Can I integrate 2-3 new chicks in October say, when the others will be about 5 months old and newer chicks are 6 weeks? Or get through the (cold Pennsylvania) winter w 3 hens and then add 3 more next spring?

You can integrate them as soon as you know how many you want, you can wait until they are 6 weeks old in October, or wait until warm weather next year. By the time they are 6 weeks old they should be able to handle Pennsylvania Octobers and Novembers.

I rotate new pullets in and old hens out every year to keep my flock young and laying. After a few years, the older they get the less they typically lay. If you are not planning on retiring hens as they get older and stop laying this may not mean as much to you. But I'd consider Rosemarythyme's suggestion to wait until next year for the additional laying before your flock becomes mostly non-laying pets.

 

[Estrella77]

Thanks so much!

I don't actively want a rooster, I'm just thinking I'm attached to these guys and if one ends up being a rooster maybe I'll try to keep one! I wouldn't try to keep 2.

Also if I end up with just 3 hens (if I can't or decide not to keep one rooster), is that a sad flock? I know they're social and heard somewhere it's good to have at least 4.

I also heard integration can be hard so is it easier to integrate them in the fall when the current hens are around 5 months old/babies 4-6 weeks or next year when the current group is one yr old? Sounds like maybe in one yr bc they're not adolescents then?

Thanks again!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I also heard integration can be hard so is it easier to integrate them in the fall when the current hens are around 5 months old/babies 4-6 weeks or next year when the current group is one yr old? Sounds like maybe in one yr bc they're not adolescents then?

Just my opinion but I think chicks-to-adult is an easier integration than chicks-to-immature-pullets/cockerels. Teens can be unpredictable, whereas adults are usually more settled and even in terms of reactions and behavior.

 

[Estrella77]

Ok I have an update and a new idea. 2 of the 5 are definitely cockerels, about 7 weeks old... I'm trying to see if I can keep them and not contribute to the rooster dilemma, while also keeping my hens in a peaceful setting where the kids can visit them as pets and not worry about the kids (6, 8 and 10) being hurt.

Could I have a bachelor pad for the 2 roos?

They have been raised together since hatching. I would keep them in a separate coop away from the hens, and keep the kids out of their way.

Our town has a noise rule but not a specific rooster rule, so I think I could keep them unless someone complained that their noise is a nuisance. Both next door neighbors are fine with it and they're the closest.

1-- If they're in their own bachelor pad coop could they be ok to live together in relative peace?
2-- What if they free range and can see the hens if they venture that far (about 50 feet maybe, could be further but then they'd be closer to neighbors I don't know as well) but the hens are in an enclosed run? Would this make them fight? Since it may not last (if ppl complain) I don't think I can convince my husband to spend another week and Lord knows how much money building another run!
3-- is this a terrible way for roosters to live without being able to mate?
4-- if free ranging wouldn't work, would this work if I did make them an enclosed run away from the hens?

Thank you!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

1-- If they're in their own bachelor pad coop could they be ok to live together in relative peace?

Many times that works. Sometimes it doesn't. Puberty is probably going to be the deciding time. That is when the hormones are raging the worst.

2-- What if they free range and can see the hens if they venture that far (about 50 feet maybe, could be further but then they'd be closer to neighbors I don't know as well) but the hens are in an enclosed run? Would this make them fight? Since it may not last (if ppl complain) I don't think I can convince my husband to spend another week and Lord knows how much money building another run!

They will venture that far and further. They might and might not fight, you never know.

3-- is this a terrible way for roosters to live without being able to mate?

Many people keep roosters in bachelor pads. They seem to have a great lives.

4-- if free ranging wouldn't work, would this work if I did make them an enclosed run away from the hens?

This has the best chance of working. I cannot guarantee anything working but this has the best chance.

 

[Estrella77]

Thank you so much for your replies. I'm going to see if I can convince my husband to give this a go I'm hoping if the roos are separate I can keep the hens more as the kids' pets and I'll just handle the roos. If things get out of hand I'll give up but at least I tried. Here's a pic, these guys thank you!