Too many

[MissPrissy]

There are lots of remedies to your issues but that is up to you to decide.

I would lock them in at night and not let them out for at least a week. I would spend that time sorting out males and either culling for the freezer or placing an ad for free roosters to a new home.

If you then choose to let them free range at will again make sure no roosters are free ranging with the hens and that the hens have had at least 2 weeks or more to be cleaned out from their last mating.

If you do not want any more chicks then get rid of all the roosters. Still it will be 2 - 3 weeks before the eggs are no longer fertile.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Are the new roosters that come along the young ones that are being raised by your hens or are roosters from off your property, coming over to your property?

I get the feeling that in warmer areas of the country, there are a lot more free roaming chickens than we ever have here.

 

[lauralou]

Bless your heart, Lady Rose, you have a problem!

I free range my chickens, and I love that they can run around my property. But mine always come back to the coop to lay eggs.

I think that you need to train your chickens to come back to the coop for egglaying. Do you have a fence around your coops at all? If so, it might be a good idea to keep them locked in the fence for a few days until they get the idea. Put golf balls in the nest boxes, to help them figure it out.

If you don't have a fence around the coops, it might be time to think about building one.

Even that won't solve the problem of the broodies you have sitting on eggs now. You'll have to search for them.

As for all of the extra cockerels you have, that is a whole different problem, and as they get older, it's going to get worse, and become an unhealthy situation for your hens. How do feel about eating the extra boys? I know that isn't an option for some people, but if it is an option for you, then that is probably your easiest solution.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

I would lock up all the ones you dont want to keep and put an add in the paper for chickens for sale. I had some pullets i put in the paper and craigslist and they went like hot cakes and i am STILL getting calls. I could have sold a 100 or more! I wish I had some more to sell. The other option is fill up the freezer and eat great all winter. I would sell all but a couple broody hens and replace with Egg layers that are not so broody.
What part of the world are you in Lady Rose?

 

[Lady Rose]

Thanks very much for all your advice.

Where I live is not so easy to just sell them as,my nearest neighbour is about 5kms away.

I can't bring myself to eat them as I see them as having their own personalities
Also the issue with selling them is that they just won't buy them here.(they can be a bit odd)
Ps I live in the Balearic Islands Spain.