16 and me
Songster
- Oct 31, 2022
- 359
- 1,508
- 246
Hi all,
I inherited a flock of 13 hens and 2 roos a year ago. They're an assortment of heritage breeds, that were raised together. I got them as 1 year olds, they're 2 years old now, except for 1 offspring hen that hatched last August. The Roosters: My alpha is an Americauna. Large, confident and good with people and my dog. The beta is a Polish. He's always been a bit of a spaz, not the brightest roo (gets stuck in corners & can't figure out the escape is to turn around). Last year the roos seemed to be fine together, beta accepted his post. This spring, he's challenging alpha and me regularly. My alpha steps in when he comes at me and he usually runs like a bolt of lightning from his boss. But when alpha mates a hen, he charges at him and jumps on him! Then had to run like the devil to save himself. I suspect I'll be culling him this weekend, leaving me with 1 roo to 14 hens. When I am home, they free range on a large property with coyote and eagle threats, and in a large pen when I am at work. I have a dog that keeps the coyotes away when he is out with me and the birds. Is 1 roo okay? I isolated mr. Beta for an hour yesterday because he was being such a jerk, and boy, the flock was peaceful! And it seemed they stayed together more, with alpha, not spreading our all over the place as when both roos are out. I am hoping that a hen will go broody (at least 3 weeks after beta is gone) and give me a roo fom alpha to take beta's place. Is having offspring roosters a good plan? Will they be more or less likely to get along?
Thanks for any input. Greatly appreciated!
I inherited a flock of 13 hens and 2 roos a year ago. They're an assortment of heritage breeds, that were raised together. I got them as 1 year olds, they're 2 years old now, except for 1 offspring hen that hatched last August. The Roosters: My alpha is an Americauna. Large, confident and good with people and my dog. The beta is a Polish. He's always been a bit of a spaz, not the brightest roo (gets stuck in corners & can't figure out the escape is to turn around). Last year the roos seemed to be fine together, beta accepted his post. This spring, he's challenging alpha and me regularly. My alpha steps in when he comes at me and he usually runs like a bolt of lightning from his boss. But when alpha mates a hen, he charges at him and jumps on him! Then had to run like the devil to save himself. I suspect I'll be culling him this weekend, leaving me with 1 roo to 14 hens. When I am home, they free range on a large property with coyote and eagle threats, and in a large pen when I am at work. I have a dog that keeps the coyotes away when he is out with me and the birds. Is 1 roo okay? I isolated mr. Beta for an hour yesterday because he was being such a jerk, and boy, the flock was peaceful! And it seemed they stayed together more, with alpha, not spreading our all over the place as when both roos are out. I am hoping that a hen will go broody (at least 3 weeks after beta is gone) and give me a roo fom alpha to take beta's place. Is having offspring roosters a good plan? Will they be more or less likely to get along?
Thanks for any input. Greatly appreciated!