Breeding Question

[Laceyg126]

We currently have 5 hens, 1 Rooster, and 7 baby chicks we just hatched. If we decide to hatch more, do we have to get a different rooster for the new hatchlings since they would be the first generation from our current rooster?

 

[DemeterAD9]

Inbreeding doesn’t really cause issues in the first few generations unless the parents are already showing certain problems. Besides, when done right line breeding and/or inbreeding is often used to set certain traits in stone, I’m sure it happens often with show birds too.

If anything I would keep one of the cockerel chicks and use him over the original hens, then keep one of his sons to breed with everyone. Adding new genetics every few years is a good idea though, either by getting a new roo or new hens to hatch out replacement roos/hen.

 

[Laceyg126]

Inbreeding doesn’t really cause issues in the first few generations unless the parents are already showing certain problems. Besides, when done right line breeding and/or inbreeding is often used to set certain traits in stone, I’m sure it happens often with show birds too.

If anything I would keep one of the cockerel chicks and use him over the original hens, then keep one of his sons to breed with everyone. Adding new genetics every few years is a good idea though, either by getting a new roo or new hens to hatch out replacement roos/hen.

Thanks for the info! That's great to know because we really like our Rooster Walter. The babies will be 4 wks on Monday and I have been spending ENTIRELY too much time googling how to figure out the genders lol. I'm afraid we have at least 3 roosters and I don't know if we will be able to keep all 3, depending on their temperament. We got an accidental rooster before Walter and he was just terribly aggressive. He attacked my 4yr old several times. I hope if we do have 3 males in the brooder that they are as docile as Walter.

 

[DemeterAD9]

That’s the problem with hatching your own eggs, you get far more roosters than you need! It’s a good idea to try and come to terms with the fact you’ll likely have to butcher some of the boys. I’ve got a flock of 19 hens and 2 roosters who are the proud parents of 25 chicks. Looks like I got a decent 50/50 split of boys/girls but I only plan to keep 1, maybe 2 of the cockerels and one of the adult roosters is gonna have to go.

I’ll be putting off butchering the extras as long as I can so they can grow and I get a good idea of who might be staying. Problem is, once they hit about 15-18 weeks they tend to go nuts with the chasing girls and fighting each other… you’ll likely experience the same if you raise the boys together with all the others. My advice is pick the one(s) who stays out of the fights, doesn't act super friendly (often leads to aggression), and flirts with the girls rather than grabbing them and having their way.

 

[Laceyg126]

That’s the problem with hatching your own eggs, you get far more roosters than you need! It’s a good idea to try and come to terms with the fact you’ll likely have to butcher some of the boys. I’ve got a flock of 19 hens and 2 roosters who are the proud parents of 25 chicks. Looks like I got a decent 50/50 split of boys/girls but I only plan to keep 1, maybe 2 of the cockerels and one of the adult roosters is gonna have to go.

I’ll be putting off butchering the extras as long as I can so they can grow and I get a good idea of who might be staying. Problem is, once they hit about 15-18 weeks they tend to go nuts with the chasing girls and fighting each other… you’ll likely experience the same if you raise the boys together with all the others. My advice is pick the one(s) who stays out of the fights, doesn't act super friendly (often leads to aggression), and flirts with the girls rather than grabbing them and having their way.

So, I'm your opinion, it's 2 roosters too many for a flock of only 12-13 hens? Someone else had mentioned to me not to handle the roosters too much bc that can lead to aggression...

 

[DemeterAD9]

You may be able to get away with 2 but 1 would be easier for the hens’ sake. If they are able to free range it is much easier to keep multiple roosters. And yes, I find if you handle the cockerels at a young age they tend to be little jerks to people. Some will still be jerks regardless while just a few may be well behaved. Learned that the hard way when I first started.

I only have two because I wanted to have a backup in case winter was too hard on one or the other. By fall I hope to have 30 birds tops so there will be a few days set aside for getting the 68 total down to the target number! It will be hard deciding on the boys to keep, I am breeding for large bodied birds who have a nice pattern going on but ultimately I want a good pair of roosters who will not attack me, the dogs/cats, each other, and certainly not my nieces and nephews.

 

[Laceyg126]

You may be able to get away with 2 but 1 would be easier for the hens’ sake. If they are able to free range it is much easier to keep multiple roosters. And yes, I find if you handle the cockerels at a young age they tend to be little jerks to people. Some will still be jerks regardless while just a few may be well behaved. Learned that the hard way when I first started.

I only have two because I wanted to have a backup in case winter was too hard on one or the other. By fall I hope to have 30 birds tops so there will be a few days set aside for getting the 68 total down to the target number! It will be hard deciding on the boys to keep, I am breeding for large bodied birds who have a nice pattern going on but ultimately I want a good pair of roosters who will not attack me, the dogs/cats, each other, and certainly not my nieces and nephews.

 

[Laceyg126]

If you're looking for big one, the Rooster we had to get rid of was a Lavender Orpington. No exaggeration, he was double the size of the EE rooster we have now. He was mean as could be though, but knowing what I know now, that's probably bc my mother in law handled him a ton.

 

[DemeterAD9]

If you're looking for big one, the Rooster we had to get rid of was a Lavender Orpington. No exaggeration, he was double the size of the EE rooster we have now. He was mean as could be though, but knowing what I know now, that's probably bc my mother in law handled him a ton.

I specifically started with large breeds like black jersey giants, brahmas, and a couple large fowl mix mutts along with colored egg layers. The large fowl mix cockerel I had was huge at just 20ish weeks. Tall and lanky, he was a jerk to the girls and quite frankly rather ugly. He dressed out at 6lbs but I bet if I kept him till now he’d almost be turkey sized! I am half tempted to order eggs from that seller again in hopes of getting a nicer cockerel. Of all my birds the brahmas are the largest while the BJG are pretty darn average, that’s hatchery quality for you! Maybe next year I will add an Orpington, I was supposed to have a Cochin this spring but of all the ones that could of died in the batch it just had to be that one

There’s a small possibility of me finding myself at the feed store again eye balling the heritage turkey chicks, and who knows? If there happens to be some Orpington or Cochins they just might end up coming home!