too many roos ,Help!

[Tracie70]

Hello,

I just recently posted a few pictures of my chickens and it looks like I am going to have more rooster then hens. My questions are? Are these roo's going to fight amongst themselves? Also I really wanted to have some hens for the eggs ,about 10 of them, Will they be ok with the roos? The roos are about 10 wks and the new hens are egg laying already.

Any help I would appreciate. Thanks

 

[zatsdeb]

if they are raised together sometimes they are ok, but you don't want to keep too many roosters in with your hens or they will get abused! I had 9 roosters, most I hatched, in with 38 hens, we had to eventually put all but 3 roosters in another coop, and they went to a community sale, there are some people who go to community sales to buy roosters for their hens, I had one guy buy my turken rooster and then asked my husband if we had any more. strange and unusual I guess is good! Some people buy for meat, thats why I don't go with my husband. I would just rather not know.

 

[Billyj]

I would venture to say that if you have more roos than hens, there will be problems. Once the roos are at a mature age, they will start fighting for dominance. Once that is established, the problem is that your hens will be mated by a lot, if not all of them. The ratio from what I understand is 1 roo to every 7-10 hens. If you have more roos it will be problimatic in the future.

 

[Tracie70]

Can anyone tell me if I can add some hens that are already laying to this flock?

 

[zatsdeb]

if they are the same size it shouldn't be a problem. are they chickens you already have or getting from someone else? You might want to Quarantine them if they come from someone else, even if you know them. when you get ready to put them together we do it at night in the dark and they seem to adapt much better.

 

[schellie69]

If you add more hens to your flock make sure to keep them apart for 30 days just to make sure they are ok then we let the new ones out to free range with the old ones, it seems to work okay or you can add a fence and keep them apart but able to see each other for a week then let out to free range take fence down and let them all coop up together just a couple of ideas to help.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I would not keep more then one roo per 8-10 hens becuase it's too stressful on them I have read here about many problems that peoples hens had stopped laying because the roosters were constantly mating them and stessing them out. I would put an ad on craigslist before they are mature enough to start mating. JMHO

 

[afeatherfan]

It takes 10 to 12 roosters to 1 hen. Then if you get a hen that is all the roosters favorite they tear the backs out of them . I got 60+ hens an 3 roosters and really dont need them. If you just want eggs sell all the roosters .

 

[missionarywife]

Well, I had 3 roos and 18 hens untill this morning when once again the 2 of the 3 roos were at each other and drew blood. So, I and my 12 yr old butchered the aggressive production roo. I was sorry that I had to do it but I didn't want my pretty roo to get killed.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Ours fought, I made a bachelor pad for 3 roosters and kept one with the girls. The 3 boys get along ok with no hens around

I have three coops so eventually I'll be breeding BO in one and CM in another the big coop has a mix the majority being easter eggers. Unfortunately my lovely Cochin Roo will be going to make room for all that to happen... unless I convince DH to build a 4th coop.....lol doubtful