Which roo more stressful-young or old

[TheTwoRoos]

Recrntly hatched two male chicks along with a few pullets and went and bought a few more pullets from tsc.

I currently have been debating on who should go and who should be separated.As I can’t make any huge decisions with the two sons being only five weeks old.

I breed from a rooster who has some serious hormonal issues,he is three years and is calming down but for the longest he could wear out twenty hens alone,so obviously some changes will be made.On top of that,he has an obsession with our duck hens.If he wasn’t a good watchout/protector,he might not be here right now,but we ended up keeping him and giving our other males away.
I was thinking about getting a dog pen from a friend of mine and keeping four or five old hens in within him so they could avoid the young guys,but,what would be worse about breeding,the father or the sons?On top of that,I have very gentlemanly Cochin bantam who I was gonna leave in there because he doesn’t act off when he he higher power,he treats the ladies nicely actually.Zeus takes great care but he can be a bit rough,may even find Zeus some ladies at a auction that are fairly large.Am keeping younger hens in with the young males because most of them are feisty and I think can keep the boys in line.
The older gals are six and five years and are practically at their stops with laying,thinking Zeus’s won’t breed as much if his girls are not even laying regularly or at all,the guy isn’t three years and I don’t think is really even do as good at fertilization as he was,but he is a big baby so I want to keep him around.

What would you do?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

With the older rooster's track record, I would not put him in a confined pen with 5 hens. I think the girls would see far too much action. Your rooster has shown to be overly assertive and has the muscle size to dominate. Not a good combination.

I find keeping my young cocks with my matrons and pullets works very well. They knock sense into the boys. The older matrons take over top positions and don't allow nonsense while the younger pullets tend to just flee.

Personally, I have a sweet senior rooster who also oversees all and keeps civil order, but it sounds like your senior will be more of a problem than a solution.

I personally then would cull the overly hormonal senior rooster as soon as possible. I would not have bred from him as I wouldn't want his hormones passed along.

I would find other ways to protect the flock for now, or confine them a bit more, until you can sort out which of the younger cocks is a keeper....which the girls should do for you in short order.

Just what I would do.

Lofmc

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I wasn’t sure if his hormones was a him thing or genetic cause his personality is just everything and carried on with his last sons,all three of his chciks are super docile.Was keeping him around because he was getting the job done,I mean he really was,and he didn’t have just one specific hen,he breeds all and most eggs are fertilized.On top of that,the hens don’t seem stressed by his actions (If course he has calmed down quite a bit),so I was thinking he may be ok with five,since he isn’t choosing a specific one,but we will see just want suggestions m,thanks

 

[RWise]

I find that just because the old guy is a bit obnoxious, it does not mean that all his offspring will be that way.
I would not put a cock in my flock less than 1 YO,,,
Once they hit puberty, they go alone into a bachelor pad (if they stand a chance at breeding/selling). or to a pot/freezer.

 

[Mrs. K]

Barebacked hens tend to bother people more than they bother hens in my experience. How do your hens act? Do they run in terror from him, or do they stand by him hanging on his every gesture. Are they comfortable around him? If so, they are fine. Some hens are much more prone to feather breakage and bare backs than others. They look terrible, but if they are active and laying eggs, they are fine.

However, 3 years is some age on the rooster, and his reign may be at the end. With roosters in a flock, one is never sure how they are going to act or react. There may be no problems or they may fight to the death. I think I would have a plan B set up so that you can immediately separate any birds if needed. A long handle fish net can help.

Mix it up, see how it works, adjust....

Mrs K

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Yes,always have a plan b cause I enjoy keeping males
They never run unless their clear across the yard and he is running at them but can never catch them or doesn’t care enough.They stick with him everywhere he goes,I had to Seperate him and it sent them into depression and loss,they follow him everywhere.Never have super bare hens.