space & number of birds

[soler]

OK, so i started the chicken craze by thinking i would keep only 3-4 hens for eggs, and then it all went out of control as i read up and discovered all the different breeds. I have now decided to keep the roosters from the straight runs if they grow to get along with each other, after reading about the mass killings of male chicks.

So i think i am currently going to end up with 20-22 birds, 8-10 standard sized and 10-12 bantams (if i don't give back any roosters from the straight runs).

This is the space i am creating for them:
30x10 run, with fenced roof and bottom under the ground (there are raccoons and hawks here)

two coops
1 4x5 including 3 nest boxes 32 inches ceiling height inside
1 6x5 including 6 nest boxes 60 inches ceiling height inside

I am going to put a tarp over a 10x10 area of the run so they can leave the coop in bad weather if they want to.

the chickens will be allowed to run around the rest of the garden and free range every other day or so.

the question is, do i need more space or am i ok?

 

[sonew123]

OK, so i started the chicken craze by thinking i would keep only 3-4 hens for eggs, and then it all went out of control as i read up and discovered all the different breeds. I have now decided to keep the roosters from the straight runs if they grow to get along with each other, after reading about the mass killings of male chicks. 

So i think i am currently going to end up with 20-22 birds, 8-10 standard sized and 10-12 bantams (if i don't give back any roosters from the straight runs).

This is the space i am creating for them:
30x10 run, with fenced roof and bottom under the ground (there are raccoons and hawks here)

two coops
1 4x5 including 3 nest boxes 32 inches ceiling height inside
1 6x5 including 6 nest boxes 60 inches ceiling height inside

I am going to put a tarp over a 10x10 area of the run so they can leave the coop in bad weather if they want to.

the chickens will be allowed to run around the rest of the garden and free range every other day or so.

the question is, do i need more space or am i ok?

You need 4 sq ft per bird not including nesting box or run space..living quarters....for bantams you can squeek down to 3 sq ft...you need more space...not much but maybe go for 7x 5 for each coop? the run space is great but dont mix your bantams and Large fowl as the batntams can and will get killed due to the size difference..those big roos will try and mate your little girls..they are too big for that nesting boxes....you only need 3 for each...youll find they find favorites and wind up all using the same 1-3 boxes...Pretty funnt watching 3 fat hens trying to all get in one box...Its not from having enough boxes ..they choose favorties and stick with them! Lol

Also you only need 1-2 roos per 10 hens if you have more than that your girls will get overbred and hurt;(

 

[soler]

Thanks so much for the reply. 18 our of the 22 birds are straight run....so if we assume 50-50, i'll end up with 9 roosters. It sounds like that's an absolute no from your response. I had only read about "needing" only one rooster per 10 hens, but not much about issues with extra roosters.

I suppose if i wanted to try and keep them i'd have to then build a separate run and coop.

If the extra roosters are silkies, a lavender orpington, mille fleur d'uccle, bantam gold laced cochin, blue red laced wyandotte, black copper maran, do you think they will still be put down or is there appetite for these roosters ( to keep alive i mean)? I am really stressed about it!

I also have a mutt than is growing larger than everyone else, and am conviced that's a male... pretty sure that would get destroyed so i need to keep him for sure.

 

[sonew123]

Thanks so much for the reply. 18 our of the 22 birds are straight run....so if we assume 50-50, i'll end up with 9 roosters. It sounds like that's an absolute no from your response. I had only read about "needing" only one rooster per 10 hens, but not much about issues with extra roosters.

I suppose if i wanted to try and keep them i'd have to then build a separate run and coop.

If the extra roosters are silkies, a lavender orpington, mille fleur d'uccle, bantam gold laced cochin, blue red laced wyandotte, black copper maran, do you think they will still be put down or is there appetite for these roosters ( to keep alive i mean)? I am really stressed about it!

I also have a mutt than is growing larger than everyone else, and am conviced that's a male... pretty sure that would get destroyed so i need to keep him for sure.

i think its wonderful that you dont want to destroy any roo you may wind up getting, but its not reality;( if you cant sell..them..give them away..etc...you cannot keep all those roos and have happy hens bantam or not ;( Those roosters grow up and most fight horribly...If you build a separate coop for them...eventually they will fight...get hurt...and even possibly kill one another...It all depends on hormones and their growth...those breeds are desirable to alot of folks...as soon as you figure out who the roos are decide who you are keeping and then immediately try to sell them on Craigslist or local ads for a little $ Dont offer them free as you can expect folks to snag them for food..but again..that is the reality for most roos;( throw 10$ each on them since they are hatchery birds right? Hope someone buys them..give a deal for buying more but expect people to bargain with you...

This is all part of raising chickens..unfortunately the roos get the short end of the stick and as hard as you try you cant save them all...You may be able to get very lucky and you will sell them all off before you have to give them away...I dont mean to sound harsh

 

[soler]

That is depressing. The breeder said he will take the roosters back, and would keep the lavender orpington for sure for himself, then sell the others at an auction. So i do have a place to go with them, but now that i am raising them, of course the game has changed completely, and i just want them to be safe!

I read somewhere that keeping males without females will stop them from fighting if they grew up together, so i was holding on to that fantasy i suppose, in thinking about isolating them. Thanks very much for the response. There is so much to think about! They are just wonderful critters.

 

[Vickilynn45]

i think its wonderful that you dont want to destroy any roo you may wind up getting, but its not reality;( if you cant sell..them..give them away..etc...you cannot keep all those roos and have happy hens bantam or not ;( Those roosters grow up and most fight horribly...If you build a separate coop for them...eventually they will fight...get hurt...and even possibly kill one another...It all depends on hormones and their growth...those breeds are desirable to alot of folks...as soon as you figure out who the roos are decide who you are keeping and then immediately try to sell them on Craigslist or local ads for a little $ Dont offer them free as you can expect folks to snag them for food..but again..that is the reality for most roos;( throw 10$ each on them since they are hatchery birds right? Hope someone buys them..give a deal for buying more but expect people to bargain with you...
This is all part of raising chickens..unfortunately the roos get the short end of the stick and as hard as you try you cant save them all...You may be able to get very lucky and you will sell them all off before you have to give them away...I dont mean to sound harsh

We live in town and can't have any roosters so we are hoping that we have six hens. But thank you for your honesty. It is really hard to think of the reality if one of our birds is a roo as we have grown so attached in just three short weeks!

 

[sonew123]

I have heard you can keep roos penned together if they completely isolated from hens...no visuals..it drives them crazy! One coop on one side of property one on the other..if you were going to house them close in separate coops...it wont work;( dang hormones!

 

[soler]

ah, so that could work? very interesting! My husband will not be happy but..........

thanks very much again.