The ins and outs of keeping a rooster flock.

[Orpingtons Mom]

When do they start laying?

Ok. Well, seriously—as I’ve started hatching eggs I’m bound to start hatching roosters.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to just “throw them away”, so I would like some advice for keeping a bachelor band. Perhaps it will inspire others.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

When do they start laying?

Ok. Well, seriously—as I’ve started hatching eggs I’m bound to start hatching roosters.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to just “throw them away”, so I would like some advice for keeping a bachelor band. Perhaps it will inspire others.

As long as there are no hens near, it should be fine...
You are brave! I have two roos and three bantam roos and their fighting drives me crazy!
There might be a lot of fighting, but if they were raised togehter thay should be fine.I will cheer you on! Good luck!

 

[BarredRockMom]

GOOD FOR YOU, EVEN BETTER FOR THEM!
I'M CHEERING YOU ON TOO!!

 

[HappyClucker7]

I'm starting a bachelor pad too! I accidentally ended up with two roos, and I'm very attached to both, so I don't want to give either of them away.
Good luck with your roos!

 

[M-H-Fielding]

I'm starting a bachelor pad too! I accidentally ended up with two roos, and I'm very attached to both, so I don't want to give either of them away.
Good luck with your roos!

In my household, we are not allowed to get attatched to them, LOL!
I have had that experience, it's hard to let those cute little roos go!

 

[kelzey]

honestly i’d like to know also! i got two chicks a couple weeks back and of course they both turned out to be lil roos. i’m so attached to them

 

[NatJ]

as I’ve started hatching eggs I’m bound to start hatching roosters.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to just “throw them away”

I think it's great that you are thinking about this before you have a problem!

I like to eat chicken, so I do not think it is "throwing them away" to eat cockerels. But I recognize that some people to do not like to eat birds they've raised. (I prefer to eat chicken I raised myself, so I know they lived a good life before butchering.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-flock-thread.1221382/
Here's a nice long thread with people keeping rooster flocks--hopefully it can help you with your plans!

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing is, with roosters, there is no perfect plan. A plan where if you set it up like this, do that, have that...well then they will all live in harmony to a beautiful old age.

Roosters are crapshoot, sometimes they work for a while, sometimes they never work, sometimes they fight once, settle it, sometimes they will fight to the death of one or both. Sometimes they get along of months, and sometimes they scrap from the very beginning.

Enough space, no hens, hideouts, and ways to get away from each other will help. But not always. Sometimes even with all of that, with the best of plans, some roosters do not work with each other. Know that you really cannot keep them all going into it. Sometimes it will work, but sometimes it won't.

Good luck

Mrs K

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

NATJ,

To each his own; once I got my first chicks, May 24, 2020..not that I'm keeping track (hahaha), I could not in good conscience eat chicken any more. I realized that they are "people", with their own individual quirks and personalities, just like me.

And, just like me, they are just trying to do their best to stay alive, and weather their stormy lives. Bill Bryson in "A short History of Nearly Everything" said it quite well, I think: "Life just wants to be; but it doesn't want to be much". When he made this comment he was discussing lichen. LOL

Before I sound terribly noble, before I stopped eating chicken, I rarely ate "animal protein" anyway. I'll eat eggs, milk, cheese, etc. But I draw the line at killing things. And that includes SPIDERS! (O.M.G. I've really stepped over the line there. Not that I eat them or anything.) Oh, and I really can't stand fish. So. There you go. I respect your POV, but I do not choose the same path; I do like your way of thinking. You are eating animals. You kill them, pluck them, etc. etc. It's not just picking up a blob of pink in a styrofoam package.

Now, on to my bachelor's band.

I have a variety of fences areas on my mammoth farm of 7 acres. I want my hens, and yes, they will take priority. I am thinking of creating a separate area for my gang of roosters. And they will be very special boys. I believe I'm going to stick with English Orpingtons, and I will continue to order from breeders, as opposed to hatcheries.

I adore my first breeder that sold me bebe Silver Laced Orps. NOW, I'm looking for Lemon Cuckoo Orps. They are sooooo beautiful.

 

[PatriciafromCO]

Wonder if breed and space makes a difference? Always had BR's and even with a few mystery chicks roos along the way every has gotten along, they in an open barn 60x70 with hens. Many years with multiple roos getting along.

Now we have my current lgd and he forbids fighting mainly a gander thing in the barn but he also will nudge apart any fluff starting with my current roos.