Too many roosters

[LyndsayJade]

If my flock is completely free range (they are in an acre fenced in area) and I have more roosters than hens. Is it possible that having more roosters will keep them safer or is it still a problem? They all get along right now. They are all about 5-6 months old. This is my first flock and I love my roosters, so I would hate to get rid of them, but if it's what I need to do, I will.

 

[sourland]

Have a 'Plan B' in mind. It is very likely that your cockerels will start fighting and competitively breeding your pullets - resulting in injuries.

 

[LyndsayJade]

I was afraid of that.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

Definitely plan to have one rooster for 8-12 hens, even having 20 hens and 2 roos can result in fighting over territory or ladies some boys just don't like sharing

 

[bobbi-j]

At this age, you will soon see your cockerels endlessly harassing and trying to mate with the pullets who are not at sexual maturity yet. The pullets will not be able to eat, drink, dust bathe or anything else without cockerels going after them. It will get ugly. This is the voice of experience speaking. It happened at our place - once.

 

[LyndsayJade]

I reached out to my breeder and they will trade me roosters for hens. Thank you all for the information! I think i was hanging on to the hope that I could make it work, but im not willing to sacrifice my hens wellbeing in the process.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good! Glad you can trade them. People do get attached to cockerels, in the darling stage. It is just that stage does not last. More roosters than hens is not good.