Small young flock advice

[Mrs. K]

If this is your first year with a flock, I strongly recommend letting both roosters go. An all hen flock is a nice flock to start with, to get the hang of chickens, and some experience. if you have children under the age of 6, I suggest letting them both go. Children can take the attack in the face.

Roosters IMO, take some experience. Cockerels that grow up with flock mates, often times turn out to be rotten roosters, and it is so darn hard to believe, because now, they are the darling. They are braver and will often times approach you, sit on your lap, seem to like to be petted. All actions that in puppies and kittens indicate a good pet.

Cockerels often times do not make good pets. They are largely hormonally driven, they grow faster than the pullets, become bigger and sexually active long before the pullets are interested. In a multi-genearational flock, the older hens are bigger than the cockerel and demand respect. They thump some manners into him.

In a flock with just pullets, he often becomes a bully and aggressive. This forum is filled with articles, where the darling becomes the nightmare seemingly in an instant, but inexperienced people really underestimate how violent an attack can be, and do not recognize the signs of impending violence. Some cockerels make pullet's lives miserable, even killing a pullet, some will fight with other roosters, they don't call it cockfighting for nothing, and some will attack people. They tend to attack children first, then women, then men.

The sad reality of roosters, is they have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of kids, and some adults. There are a lot of roosters out there who should not be kept for the safety of people caring for them. If you would have difficulty culling a rotten rooster, it would be best if you re-homed them as soon as possible.

Mrs K

 

[Estrella77]

If this is your first year with a flock, I strongly recommend letting both roosters go. An all hen flock is a nice flock to start with, to get the hang of chickens, and some experience. if you have children under the age of 6, I suggest letting them both go. Children can take the attack in the face.

Roosters IMO, take some experience. Cockerels that grow up with flock mates, often times turn out to be rotten roosters, and it is so darn hard to believe, because now, they are the darling. They are braver and will often times approach you, sit on your lap, seem to like to be petted. All actions that in puppies and kittens indicate a good pet.

Cockerels often times do not make good pets. They are largely hormonally driven, they grow faster than the pullets, become bigger and sexually active long before the pullets are interested. In a multi-genearational flock, the older hens are bigger than the cockerel and demand respect. They thump some manners into him.

In a flock with just pullets, he often becomes a bully and aggressive. This forum is filled with articles, where the darling becomes the nightmare seemingly in an instant, but inexperienced people really underestimate how violent an attack can be, and do not recognize the signs of impending violence. Some cockerels make pullet's lives miserable, even killing a pullet, some will fight with other roosters, they don't call it cockfighting for nothing, and some will attack people. They tend to attack children first, then women, then men.

The sad reality of roosters, is they have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of kids, and some adults. There are a lot of roosters out there who should not be kept for the safety of people caring for them. If you would have difficulty culling a rotten rooster, it would be best if you re-homed them as soon as possible.

Mrs K

Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I have read many warnings/horror stories on here and so have decided if they stay I want to keep them separate from the main flock/run so my kids (6, 8, 10) can still visit the hens. They like to pet them etc and from what I've read, most roosters will likely not tolerate that and could become aggressive or at the very least get in the way of bonding w the hens.

I was thinking then of a bachelor pad, only because I feel bad (like many inexperienced newbies I'm sure!!) getting rid of the poor guys. However the pad would be more work and money, and my husband is definitely not convinced.

I did not realize about the ones raised with flock mates as opposed to older hens, very good to know (and sad!)

I think it probably makes the most sense to try to rehome or cull, I just feel so bad for all the roos out there- this is such a weird predicament!! I naively thought by choosing sex links I wouldn't have to deal with what to do w oops roos...

Not to mention we have a noise ordinance about pets in our town. It doesn't say rooster but I can't think of many other animals that make "incessant noise for 10 minutes or more or intermittent noise for 15 minutes or more."

Ugh! Thank you!

 

[Bawkbok]

I cannot speak to the questions on raising roosters as I have no experience with males, nor are they allowed in our city. If your neighbors are that great, don't worry about it, just do your thing. There is a rooster a few blocks away from us, even though they are illegal here, and we do hear it crowing in the mornings, but i personally love the sound. I imagine the next door neighbors to that location are not real happy though at 4:30AM. The only reason to keep a rooster is if you plan / want baby chicks, for which you need a brooder. It sounds like with 2 acres you have the space.

I can speak to the "is three hens sad"? We wanted to start with 4, which is the maximum allowed where we live, but due to space limitations of the coop size since each chicken requires 10 square feet as adult, we had to decide on only 3. I was concerned about the "odd man out" issue. We acquired them as pullets and along the way, after only a few weeks, one became ill and died a sudden death (no obvious injury or illness), so the odd number concern took care of itself. The remaining two are joined at the hip and do not leave each others' side. They get along famously. Now my concern is when one is left solo for whatever reason and I'm praying that doesn't happen. Fewer hens means less eggs of course and if one stops laying or is inconsistent, you may have to resort to buying factory eggs, as we have.

I would heed the advice or more experienced chicken keepers on this site, but I can assure you two or three hens is not "sad". Any amount of chickens brings joy and peace and your kids should have fun learning to care and love them without cause for concern. Best of luck.

 

[Estrella77]

I cannot speak to the questions on raising roosters as I have no experience with males, nor are they allowed in our city. If your neighbors are that great, don't worry about it, just do your thing. There is a rooster a few blocks away from us, even though they are illegal here, and we do hear it crowing in the mornings, but i personally love the sound. I imagine the next door neighbors to that location are not real happy though at 4:30AM. The only reason to keep a rooster is if you plan / want baby chicks, for which you need a brooder. It sounds like with 2 acres you have the space.

I can speak to the "is three hens sad"? We wanted to start with 4, which is the maximum allowed where we live, but due to space limitations of the coop size since each chicken requires 10 square feet as adult, we had to decide on only 3. I was concerned about the "odd man out" issue. We acquired them as pullets and along the way, after only a few weeks, one became ill and died a sudden death (no obvious injury or illness), so the odd number concern took care of itself. The remaining two are joined at the hip and do not leave each others' side. They get along famously. Now my concern is when one is left solo for whatever reason and I'm praying that doesn't happen. Fewer hens means less eggs of course and if one stops laying or is inconsistent, you may have to resort to buying factory eggs, as we have.

I would heed the advice or more experienced chicken keepers on this site, but I can assure you two or three hens is not "sad". Any amount of chickens brings joy and peace and your kids should have fun learning to care and love them without cause for concern. Best of luck.

Thank you, this is great to know!! I hope your little flock has a long happy life together!

 

[SamLockwood]

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!

If you're new to chickens I wouldn't keep roosters in your starter flock unless you're hell bent on breeding them or you want to free range them.

If you find yourself easily intimidated by a growling hen, or have an urge to run away when a hen runs at you, don't get a rooster (also, never EVER run away from a rooster). Roosters are by nature a lot noisier and pushier than hens. Most of mine never shut up during the day, they jog around constantly burbling like electric percolators all day, and sometimes it's hard to tell if they're being pushy with your or just excided to see you.

My friendliest rooster is also the loudest. His greeting clucks can startle the easily-startled, and some of his friendly noises sound downright creepy. When he sees I have treats he makes this weird croaking sound that sounds sort of like a lead singer in a death-metal band. The first time my mom heard it she freaked out and I had to tell her "no, that's actually one of his happy sounds."

If you like to treat your chickens like dear pets, and give them little cuddles and pets, don't keep a rooster. Chickens really don't interpret physical contact like humans do, and a likely scenario for pathological chicken-cuddlers who keep roosters is somewhere around 6 to 12 months old your pet rooster will decide you're a rival for his girls' affections and try to attack you.

Even if your local laws and HOA regulations allow it, but you have neighbors that live within 50 yards of your house. Don't get a rooster. Their crowing hits 90 decibels, and they sometimes start that at 5 in the morning and will do it all day.

That being said, if you still want and / or need one, you will either need to get rid of one rooster or get more hens. Even if you only keep one 3 hens to 1 roo is a bit light unless they've all got docile temperaments. 4 would be better, 6 if they're more high-strung.

 

[Estrella77]

If you're new to chickens I wouldn't keep roosters in your starter flock unless you're hell bent on breeding them or you want to free range them.

If you find yourself easily intimidated by a growling hen, or have an urge to run away when a hen runs at you, don't get a rooster (also, never EVER run away from a rooster). Roosters are by nature a lot noisier and pushier than hens. Most of mine never shut up during the day, they jog around constantly burbling like electric percolators all day, and sometimes it's hard to tell if they're being pushy with your or just excided to see you.

My friendliest rooster is also the loudest. His greeting clucks can startle the easily-startled, and some of his friendly noises sound downright creepy. When he sees I have treats he makes this weird croaking sound that sounds sort of like a lead singer in a death-metal band. The first time my mom heard it she freaked out and I had to tell her "no, that's actually one of his happy sounds."

If you like to treat your chickens like dear pets, and give them little cuddles and pets, don't keep a rooster. Chickens really don't interpret physical contact like humans do, and a likely scenario for pathological chicken-cuddlers who keep roosters is somewhere around 6 to 12 months old your pet rooster will decide you're a rival for his girls' affections and try to attack you.

Even if your local laws and HOA regulations allow it, but you have neighbors that live within 50 yards of your house. Don't get a rooster. Their crowing hits 90 decibels, and they sometimes start that at 5 in the morning and will do it all day.

That being said, if you still want and / or need one, you will either need to get rid of one rooster or get more hens. Even if you only keep one 3 hens to 1 roo is a bit light unless they've all got docile temperaments. 4 would be better, 6 if they're more high-strung.

Thanks a lot! Yes, I am new to chickens, we do treat them like dear pets, and I have no interest in breeding/hatching more chicks. It would be nice to do supervised free ranging, but I think the difficulties of having a roo in our small flock likely outweigh that benefit at this point. They're not yet 8 weeks so we are waiting a little longer in case but soon I will likely start looking for new homes.

 

[Mrs. K]

Start now, don't wait, finding new homes can be a challenge for exactly the reasons you need to move him out of your flock. A couple of places to look, at the feed store you can post. 4-H groups or poultry clubs also have crazy chicken people.

If you are waiting to make sure they are roosters - post some pictures - you may be worrying for nothing, because I think you stated you got sex linked birds?

Do not ask about the plans for the rooster. It won't be your bird anymore, and is not your responsibility.

And you need to plan what to do if you cannot find someone to take him.

 

[Estrella77]

I have another post under breed/gender and everyone is sure they're roos! Here they are at almost 8 weeks today

 

[Estrella77]

And here is their sister same age. My husband who does none of the obsessive reading I do lol says let's wait and see they're all 3 sapphire gems supposedly

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, anything with a bright red comb at that age is a male almost 100%. You can wait to do something - but you need to know what you are going to do. If you can cull them yourself - not a problem. If you want to give them to someone else, you need to find that someone ASAP, cause that can be hard to do.