What to do with 4 roosters and 2 pullets when hoping for eggs

[Little Flock]

I am a newbie with six adorable Golden Penciled Hamburg chicks... approximately 7 weeks old. We were hoping for egg layers, but 4 of the chicks have bright pink combs top and bottom, while the other two have small yellow ones. If it turns out that we have 4 roos, can I expect the two pullets to brood their eggs so we can end up with more hens? Do I need to remove 3 of the roosters so there isn't any competition? I'd appreciate any advice you can give!

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

First off, Welcome to BYC.
Next, congrats on the Hamburg chicks.
You will be best to keep only one rooster with whatever hens you have. When they start to reach maturity you would end up with some beat up girls if there are too many roos in one pen. A good roo can handle up to 12 hens and usually more. If you kept the best roo of the bunch and got rid of the others then maybe you could pick up a few more hens for him and integrate them into your flock. As for brooding, it is up to the hen if she will go broody. Many hens will never go broody. You could always build a cheap incubator and hatch your own. There are many good designs on BYC.

 

[Little Flock]

Thanks! I'll look into incubators and try going that route if I can't find more hamburg hens locally. I live in town, so don't want to keep a rooster any longer than I "have to." I was just thinking they may take better to new arrivals if they were family, and two hens definitely wouldn't lay enough to keep my family of 6 happy. Thanks for helping me feel so welcome. This is a great forum!

 

[dumb_cluck]

Be careful introducing new chickens to the flock. Even if they are hens. There is a pecking order and there may be fights. If you want fertile eggs, then keep 1 roo, otherwise you do not need a roo for the hens to lay un-fertile eggs for consumption.

Keep reading more here at BYC, and you will learn a lot! Good Luck! And Welcome!

 

[Chic Chick]

If you live in a town and can't have roosters, but would like to build your flock up why don't you just order pullets from a hatchery? Order the miminum and sell the pullets you don't need. Too many roosters are not good.
BTW the "comb" under their beaks are called wattles.

 

[Little Flock]

Thanks!

I ordered pullets from Cackle Hatchery and found a farmer who will pick up any "extras" including my four roos.

I'm like a child at Christmas with my little flock and am looking forward to the new chicks as well.