Too many Roosters

[Alsollars]

Hello, I need some advice. I have 11-8 week old chickens. I hatched 5 with an incubator and 6 were purchased at Farm & Home. 3 out of the 5 that I hatched are Roosters. I know I need to re-home at least 1 (maybe 2). 1 of them is very aggressive towards all the others and it quite a bully. Is that the one I should re-home? I know he's probably just doing his job, but he just goes up to the other chickens and chases them for no reason.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Hello, I need some advice. I have 11-8 week old chickens. I hatched 5 with an incubator and 6 were purchased at Farm & Home. 3 out of the 5 that I hatched are Roosters. I know I need to re-home at least 1 (maybe 2). 1 of them is very aggressive towards all the others and it quite a bully. Is that the one I should re-home? I know he's probably just doing his job, but he just goes up to the other chickens and chases them for no reason.

Sounds like his hormones have kicked in, he doesnt sound like he'll be a very good roo it's pretty early for him to be chasing girls. Which generally means he'll be a more aggressive roo.

 

[SourRoses]

Don't worry, he's not doing his job, so you can fire him. Look for a mild mannered cockerel out of the bunch (just one), and get rid of the rest to make the little ladies lives easier (and yours).

 

[SamLockwood]

Depending on your situation you can only have one maybe two roosters in a flock that size. Two being if you have a LOT of space or free-range your flock a lot, and they're both relatively mild-mannered roos. So you've got to get rid of at least one boy.

By "very aggressive" I'm assuming you mean more than the usual amount of posturing and what I call "play fighting" both pullets and cockerels engage in as they grow up.

If you've got one that's already acting like a schmuck that should be your first choice for re-homing or the dinner table. A cockerel's hormones don't really kick in until 5 months of age, so if this one is already a handful you really might not want to wait until later.

I'd get rid of the jerk and watch the other two until the get around 6 months old. If one of the others starts being a problem, remove him, too. If you're lucky they might get along well enough you can keep both, especially if long-term your plan is to add more hens.

 

[Folly's place]

Agree, get rid of the developing jerk, and watch the other two. You might end up with a nice rooster, or not. Choosing a keeper takes time, and with only three to choose from, getting one good one would be nice, but don't count on it.
Do you have an adult rooster already, or did you get these eggs from some other flock? Time has to pass, and birds need to be eliminated if they aren't worth keeping.
Mary

 

[Alsollars]

Thank you all for taking the time to give me your helpful advice! I totally agree. He isn't aggressive towards me (yet) but I feel bad for all the other chickens. Is he too young to make him dinner?

 

[Rose Quartz]

Thank you all for taking the time to give me your helpful advice! I totally agree. He isn't aggressive towards me (yet) but I feel bad for all the other chickens. Is he too young to make him dinner?

I usually wait to 12 weeks, but i have a 6 person family. You could totally put him in the freezer.