Hi, Welcome to the Forum! Glad you are here?
Question 1:
We got 4 straight runs from tractor supply and two ended up being rooster
We rounded out the group with 4 more pullets so we have 6 hens and 2 roosters.
What’s the best way to keep the roosters but not get all your eggs fertilized- I’m planning on separating the two of them and putting them with my ducks… good plan?
First I'll ask "What are your goals for the roosters?" This is just for you to think about, I don't really need to know. The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs. Anything else is personal preference, not a need. Nothing wrong with personal preferences, I have some of my own. But those are a want, not a need.
People will tell you all kinds of things about roosters. Some people would not have a flock without a rooster, even if they don't want fertile eggs. Others are extremely happy to not have a rooster. Personal preferences.
If you have a rooster, he may become human aggressive. In spite of what some people will lead you to believe, not all roosters become human aggressive, but some certainly do. A chicken can cut a frog into bite sized pieces with its beak. It can drill a hole into another chicken's skull, a favorite way of killing them. They can take your or your kid's eye out with a beak. Their claws can cut and tear flesh. Eventually a rooster will grow spurts, another sharp weapon. I'll repeat myself, not all roosters become human aggressive. Many of us keep roosters without those issues, but some roosters do become human aggressive.
A rooster will mate with a hen unless he is always physically separated from her. That is nature and instinct, you are not going to change that. If you do not want fertile eggs you cannot house them together. Sometimes when they mate, feathers can come out or break off. That's not a problem unless the hen loses enough feathers that she develops a bare spot where his claws or eventually spurs can cut her. That can be caused by the rooster's technique or by a flaw in the hen's feathers. This does not always happen. When it does it is usually not as bad as it looks. But it is a risk.
Sometimes the girls don't willingly submit to a boy. They resist and the boy forces them. It can be violent. With any violence it is possible injury could occur. This is usually involved with immature cockerels with immature pullets or even with mature hens. When the cockerels grow into roosters they usually mature enough that they can sway the girls with their personality and magnificence and do not have to resort to violence. But some boys never mature. I've never had a pullet or hen injured from this but some people have.
All of that to say, you are not guaranteed to have any of these issues with any number of boys. But the more you have to more likely you are to have some of these issues. With one it is possible you will have some of these issues. With more than one the odds go way up. My general suggestion is to keep as few boys as you can and still meet your goals. With most of us that perfect number is going to be zero or one, but many people keep more than one.
Now to your specific question, is separating them a good idea? I strongly suggest that you have the ability to separate them on a moment's notice. If you need to, you may need to quickly. So have a place prepared.
Male ducks have a corkscrew penis so they can mate while in the water. If they mate with a chicken they can do damage. Lots of people keeps ducks and chickens together without a problem but some people do have this problem. Will your drakes try to mate with your cockerels or roosters? Highly unlikely but not impossible. I personally would not be concerned about this since you are only talking about your boys.
Of more concern is that ducks need water and often create a wet mess. Chickens don't need that. If your space is somewhat tight this could be a real issue. If you have a lot of room then probably not.
Question two
Got all our chickens from tractor supply. Do we need to vaccinate our chickens ? If yes, with what?
What diseases are prevalent where you are? I hatch my own and do not vaccinate. I do not have any issues I can't easily manage. Others have serious problems. Since you mentioned
Tractor Supply I'll assume you are in the US. Call your county extension office and chat with them about what chicken diseases are common in your area. With just a little luck they will put you in contact with a chicken expert, probably a professor at your state Land Grant University, so you can discuss this with someone that has local knowledge. That's what I did and decided I did not need to vaccinate for anything.
Question three:
No eggs yet. Got chickens as chicks in June…. Are we getting close?
They will lay when they lay. The earliest I've had a pullet start has been 16 weeks. The latest I've waited without giving up and eating them is 9 months. There are a lot of different factors involved beyond just differences in individual chickens. So good luck on getting eggs soon and once again,
