What do I do now?

[April82tcb]

I currently have a 4yr old bantam silver sebright who has been patiently waiting for his new ladies. I originally had gotten him 3 hens years ago but unfortunately lost them a couple months ago. So naturally my guy became lonely but also rather quickly became aggressive and super vocal. I had gone to tractor supply and gotten 4 sexed chicks for him and once feathered they went out in the coop but have had them separated by a screen for about a week now. I have been taking notice of one of the pullets and have finally without a doubt, in my mind at least, determined that I have a new rooster in the bunch. So now I have a whole different set of problems and I don't know which direction to go here. Should I get new pullets for him, and keep these 4 as a separate flock for now? Can I put them together until the new ones are big enough to integrate since the new one is not yet matured? They are about half his size now but will probably reach equality in couple more weeks. If I can keep them together how many hens should be in the mix to keep them happy? Is it just a bad idea to have a bantam roo with a standard one? I don't want to give up my bantam at all and don't want him to get any meaner than he already is so I'm trying to keep his loneliness at bay. He does seem to want to be around the new ones. I'm not sure he realizes there's another rooster yet but I'd think they know before we do and I'm afraid he'll attack him once the divider comes out. I know there's probably several different factors and different directions I could go, I just don't know what's best here.

 

[azygous]

Lots of questions. First, nothing to worry about until the new ones are on the threshold of hormones. Hormones, usually around five or six months, do effect behavior changes. But you won't know how they will all relate until the time comes. It isn't always predictable and breed and genes are factors.


The general rule of thumb is to keep ten hens for each rooster. Not a rule written in stone, though. Seven years ago I tried hatching eggs from my flock and ended up with a cocklerel. I decided to just let it play out and see what would happen as the youngster matured.

What happened surprised me. The daddy roo took over training and discipline of the young one at around eight weeks. He was very good with him, and as the baby matured and came into his hormones, the older roo taught him manners around the hens and kept him in line.

Usually, I train my cockerels myself, but the rooster did such a great job, I never had to lift a finger. I had around twenty hens so the two roosters pretty much divided them into two sub flocks and things were mostly peaceful. Occasionally, there would be a dust-up but it was rare. Then one day two years ago, the younger roo challeged the older one in a very serious fight and won. So from then on, the younger roo is now the dominate one, and there have been no more fights.

It may not work that way with your flock, but don't discount the bantam being able to dominate the younger one. You can always rehome the younger one or even cull at any point.

 

[aart]

Hormones, usually around five or six months, do effect behavior changes.

Don't all male chickens become sexually active at about 3-4 months, or are Sebrights different?

The general rule of thumb is to keep ten hens for each rooster.

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.

It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.

Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.

It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.

Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.