What would you do now?

[MaryAnnlyl]

In mid March we bought 10 two week old barred rock chicks straight run. We now have 10 six week old chicks and when we moved them out to their coop and had them outside yesterday we had to stop kidding ourselves. I am pretty certain we have 8 or 9 barred rock roosters! Feeling foolish and also wondering what in the world to do now.

We know that we will probably be eating a lot of chicken in June! Am not sure how we will deal with that many rooster personalities between now and then. And we will want to get more hens. Should we go get more sexed chicks from the feed store? (They have a few left today or will get more next week) Should we wait until later and try to buy pullets? To complicate matters we will be traveling for 5 days in May and a weekend in mid June. We have people we could ask to check on the chickens a couple of times over those days but not anyone to give the time and attention younger chicks could need.

If we bought chicks now could we introduce them to the main coop with the barred rocks in 6/7 weeks? Especially with all those roosters? Our coop is about 10 by 3 inside with a large outside run (maybe 20 by 30).

So any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's better to add birds when they are all young before the pecking order is established.
Roosters that grow up together tend not to fight much.