Who to move out of main coop?

[jcpawlak]

So I've got a situation I am curious to hear some opinions on. Sorry in advance for being a bit long winded.

I started with 13 hens and 1 rooster in my coop and completely enclosed run. In general I didn't let them free range, just because they were my first flock and I wanted to ensure their safety 100%. Only one hen has died, so of that original group 12 hens and 1 rooster are still alive at over 3 1/2 years.

About a year ago I let a broody hen sit and hatch some eggs, got 5 new hens and 2 new roosters. There is no major fighting despite the fact I know I have a higher rooster to hen ratio than I should. But over the past month or so what I've noticed is that the roosters are competing/overbreeding the hens (or so I think), based on the fact that several hens have many back feathers pulled off/out. So the time has come to address the situation.

My question is....what is the best solution? Here are what I am considering, curious what others think of these or any other thoughts.

1. I do have an old smaller coop, capable of holding 4 chickens. I could take a rooster and a few hens and move them to that coop. It does not have an enclosed run, so they would be 100% free range during the daytime. It would lower the population and competition in the main coop, but leaving 2 roosters might still be problematic. Winter would also be more of a pain, as there is no power run to this smaller coop for keeping water liquid.

2. I could move 2 roosters outside on their own. They would just live their life as bachelor roommates!

3. Simply cull 1 or 2 roosters from the main flock to get that ratio down, and leave everyone else in the main coop/run.

4. ???

Thanks in advance for any comments or insights anyone might have!

-Jonathan

 

[Shadrach]

I've got a couple of questions.
How interested are you in your chickens? Do you have time to spend with them?
If you are interested and have time, split the flock. Choose carefully a rooster making sure if you can that the hens he mates with most move into your spare coop with him.
If you don't have a major predator problem and have the space, I would be inclined to free range both groups. If problems continue with the flock with two roosters you can always eat one.
I'm not in favor of option 2.
Option 3 is probably the easiest and I think many would go for that.
Finally, some feather damage is almost inevitable through mating.

 

[jcpawlak]

I've got a couple of questions.
How interested are you in your chickens? Do you have time to spend with them?
If you are interested and have time, split the flock. Choose carefully a rooster making sure if you can that the hens he mates with most move into your spare coop with him.
If you don't have a major predator problem and have the space, I would be inclined to free range both groups. If problems continue with the flock with two roosters you can always eat one.
I'm not in favor of option 2.
Option 3 is probably the easiest and I think many would go for that.
Finally, some feather damage is almost inevitable through mating.

I am interested in them, but not enough that I know who likes who the best lol If I do split I think the oldest rooster and some of the older hens would be my best guess at a good "match" simply because they've been around each other the most time.

I am leery of free ranging everyone. We are on 60 mostly wooded acres, with raccoons, skunks, coyotes, hawks, etc.....thus my fully enclosed run. When we first moved here we did let our 2 original hens free range daily, and they lived about a year before dying of old age (not predation), so they might surprise me!

Understood regarding the feather damage. I was hoping that is all it was when I first noticed, but it is getting pretty severe with larger patches of skin exposed on more and more hens.

Thanks for your comments!

 

[Shadrach]

I am interested in them, but not enough that I know who likes who the best lol If I do split I think the oldest rooster and some of the older hens would be my best guess at a good "match" simply because they've been around each other the most time.

I am leery of free ranging everyone. We are on 60 mostly wooded acres, with raccoons, skunks, coyotes, hawks, etc.....thus my fully enclosed run. When we first moved here we did let our 2 original hens free range daily, and they lived about a year before dying of old age (not predation), so they might surprise me!

Understood regarding the feather damage. I was hoping that is all it was when I first noticed, but it is getting pretty severe with larger patches of skin exposed on more and more hens.

Thanks for your comments!

That is a problem with free ranging. It's not for everyone and you absolutely have to be prepared for some losses to predators.
If you eat any of your chickens then rationally this shouldn't be a problem.
Sure, your best guess would probably be fine. If both groups free range they will probably sort out who lives with who on their own. They did here quite quickly.
I lose some to predators every year, but every year the hens go broody and new chicks take the place of those that didn't make it. It's not how everyone wants to keep chickens but it works and to me seems like a natural life cycle.

 

[Mrs. K]

At 3 1/2 years of age, I would assume that your oldest rooster is getting old. He may or may not live much longer. In my world a 4 year old bird is an old bird near the end of her/his time. I do know that some people on here have very very old birds, so... maybe not.

If you want to keep everything - put either the young cockerels in the small coop, or all three of the roosters in there.

But what I would do is pick the young rooster that I like best, and cull the other two. Those older hens more than likely will raise you up an real nice rooster. I like a rooster to be raised in a multi-generational flock.

Mrs K

 

[jcpawlak]

At 3 1/2 years of age, I would assume that your oldest rooster is getting old. He may or may not live much longer. In my world a 4 year old bird is an old bird near the end of her/his time. I do know that some people on here have very very old birds, so... maybe not.

If you want to keep everything - put either the young cockerels in the small coop, or all three of the roosters in there.

But what I would do is pick the young rooster that I like best, and cull the other two. Those older hens more than likely will raise you up an real nice rooster. I like a rooster to be raised in a multi-generational flock.

Mrs K

I agree, I am actually quite surprised as many of our flock is still alive at their age. Partially why I let broody hatch a few....anticipated some deaths that have not occurred yet!

I'll give it some thought. Never considered the impact older/varied hens have on the rooster they raise. Lots to consider, appreciate your input

 

[aart]

But what I would do is pick the young rooster that I like best, and cull the other two. Those older hens more than likely will raise you up an real nice rooster. I like a rooster to be raised in a multi-generational flock.

Ditto Dat^^^
Do you really want to feed and care for another coop of birds thru the winter?
Pick your best birds to keep, in the number that will comfortably fit in your coop and run, and make soup from the the rest of them.