Those of you with roosters

[Erin80]

How many roosters do you have?

Right now I have 5 that are for sure pullets, and 2 that are most likely pullets...and 2 silkies that I have no idea about at this point. I also have 1 for sure rooster silkie, 1 ameraucana that I'm pretty positive is a roo, and 1 Icelandic that I'm 99% sure is a roo as well.

I know I don't have enough females to keep all my roo's (which is horribly sad to me because I love them all!).....how do you choose which roo to keep and which to give away?

I love my Ameraucana roo because he's so sweet and has loved me since I brought him home....and I love the Icelandic roo (even though he's not nearly as friendly and is very flighty) because he's beautiful and a more rare bird. I guess I will just watch and see which is better with the girls? I will give the male silkie away....I don't want silkie roo's so that's already decided.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

This is why I have so many birds. I really really like my boys, so I have to keep a large number of females in response. I would like to downsize but hate the prospect of "getting rid of" any of the boys I have now.

You can wait it out and see how the boys do. Sometimes one will just become a chaste flockmember, so to speak, and not compete with the other male and instead just function to help with protection and raising chicks.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I used to have close to twenty roosters and cockerels, but I lost a few so am around ten now. Not including chicks, this is birds that are at least seven or eight months old. Depending on the temperament of your males, you can have 4-15 girls for each. Some people have more, others less.

If your hens are stressed, that's a sign you have too many males and somebody needs to go.

Can you post pictures of your chickens? We can help out with confirming gender.

 

[DakotaDreamer]

I have one rooster but I had two at one point(one sadly passed away). We put them in a separate coop together which we called the bachelor pad so we could keep both. We had enough hens but they blinded one of my hens so I took them out.

 

[lastco]

I keep as many as I can, within reason! If they grow up together and get along, you may be able to manage multiple roos without drama. You can always keep them and make a decision later if problems arise.

 

[Erin80]

Here they are. The Icelandic is very dominant and is always up at the other one pecking at it and trying to stand taller. I definitely think he will be the leader of the flock. As of this morning, I am seeing pink in the Icelandics comb....he's only 4 weeks old.

 

[Erin80]

My Ameraucana is getting that bumpy comb whereas my other one has zero comb development.

 

[Chickassan]

I've got three right now, nowhere near the amount of recommend ladies in the ratio. I'm not planning on choosing though, one rooster is a backup for my head roo the other is a faverolles he is a keeper for more faverolles. I don't worry about him causing any issues due to his breed.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

View attachment 1056634 View attachment 1056633 View attachment 1056632 View attachment 1056636 Here they are. The Icelandic is very dominant and is always up at the other one pecking at it and trying to stand taller. I definitely think he will be the leader of the flock. As of this morning, I am seeing pink in the Icelandics comb....he's only 4 weeks old.

The EE could be a pullet.

Second chick might be a cockerel, but really your chicks are too young for you to be worrying about gender.

 

[Erin80]

I'm only worried about gender because I love them all and don't want to give anyone away in the future.....hopefully I won't have to!