Will replacing your rooster make your hen flocks merge?

[Peter.J]

3 weeks is still pretty new for a flock. Looks like you have plenty of space, get him a few more hens; BUT if he is an egg eater that is not good. If it is easy for you to get more roosters than its probably worth at least trying... Your English seems pretty good.

 

[Aboodles]

Yep,two strapping fellas you might have an issue lol!

Bahaha, lovely roo's though don't you think?
I will unfortunately have to return them to the breeder and get hens instead so I won't have issues, I will miss them though, they've been warming up to me the past few days.
That's embarrassing how I thought they were hens.. lol. I am such a city guy and I just recently moved to the suburbs, still naive about how all this stuff works.

 

[Aboodles]

3 weeks is still pretty new for a flock. Looks like you have plenty of space, get him a few more hens; BUT if he is an egg eater that is not good. If it is easy for you to get more roosters than its probably worth at least trying... Your English seems pretty good.

I have accidentally ended up with 2 roosters, so now I have 3 roosters and 2 hens. So far I've been considering returning them to the breeder and getting hens instead of them, but now that I read your comment I think I might have different plans. Do you think my space is enough for 3 different flocks? what's a good hens:roosters ratio? I am really attached to my 2 new roosters and I'd love to be able to keep them.

Thanks btw, glad to know my posts aren't hard to read

 

[Peter.J]

I'm new to roosters myself; i had a couple different flocks in the city but couldn't have roosters. Now I have the space so I just built a large coop/run thats 320sq. ft. From what i've read each rooster should have about 10 hens to prevent over breeding and hopefully fighting. Right now i have 2 cockerels with 21 hens and they all just seem to live together pretty well; i don't see any obvious difference in who hangs out with who. But who knows that may change as the roosters get older.
I'd like to just have one large flock for ease of care, and from what i've seen at friend's places and read about it is certainly possible.
In your case though, i would definitely recommend a lot more hens, but if you're short on space then you may have to make the tough call on which rooster to keep. You can always let them grow up a bit and then cull the 'meaner' of the two, or gift him to a friend etc...

 

[aart]

From what i've read each rooster should have about 10 hens to prevent over breeding and hopefully fighting.

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
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.

 

[Chickassan]

They are very handsome boys, good you can swap them for hens though and don't worry the girls will warm up to you as well. As for your embarrassment don't be in the least little bit we were all beginners at one point and we've all had suprise roosters.

Bahaha, lovely roo's though don't you think?
I will unfortunately have to return them to the breeder and get hens instead so I won't have issues, I will miss them though, they've been warming up to me the past few days.
That's embarrassing how I thought they were hens.. lol. I am such a city guy and I just recently moved to the suburbs, still naive about how all this stuff works.