Rooster in the hen house question

[Somshine]

Okay so I've got my flock built up to where I want it for eggs. I've had three flocks in three different smaller coop/runs. One flock is 4 years old, except they got a new rooster last year so he's younger. Those are my original girls and I plan on keeping them in their own separate coop and run with their rooster because he's pretty easy on them. The other two small flocks plus the new babies I hatched I wanted to put in the new massive run we finally finished. But I no longer want the roosters in there with them. I would like them to be free from being molested constantly when they're locked up for half the day for laying. How bad is it going to mess everything up if when they go in there to roost at night I kick the roosters out and shut the door with only the hens in there. I can leave an old run open if the roosters want to go in there or I can just let them roost at night. And they can have their girls back when they get out to free range everyday. Is this going to cause an Armageddon? I know the roosters aren't going to get along together in there with the girls for one, and for two I'm tired of my girls looking so ragged from being stuck in a coop with the roosters until I let them out to free range.

 

[Somshine]

The roosters can roost in the trees if they want to. I have 175 lb livestock guardian dog that keeps the 3 acres around our house and yard absolutely clear of predators. Which is where the chickens hang out. So they will be very safe as long as they don't take to roosting back in our wooded acres where he may or may not get to them fast enough. I would just like to not have them in the enclosure with the hens anymore. I'd rather have them waiting in the yard when the girls come out.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not all roosters are good roosters, but not all roosters are bad ones either - kind of a crap shoot. You might want different roosters? Roosters are easy to get.

However, I don't see it bothering your hens at all. They should go to roost just like they do with the boys. You can try putting the roosters in the other set up, making them roost in the smaller coop, leaving them in there for several days, and then let them out to free range with the girls. But what I think will happen, is that they will just follow the girls into their coop, the moment you let them free range them together.

I think it will get harder and harder to separate the roosters from the girls, the longer you do it.

Mrs K

 

[Somshine]

Not all roosters are good roosters, but not all roosters are bad ones either - kind of a crap shoot. You might want different roosters? Roosters are easy to get.

However, I don't see it bothering your hens at all. They should go to roost just like they do with the boys. You can try putting the roosters in the other set up, making them roost in the smaller coop, leaving them in there for several days, and then let them out to free range with the girls. But what I think will happen, is that they will just follow the girls into their coop, the moment you let them free range them together.

I think it will get harder and harder to separate the roosters from the girls, the longer you do it.

Mrs K

Oh I totally agree, I think they will too! Not even sure if consistency will fix that! They're not bad roosters. And they only have a flock of 5 to 7 each right now. So that may make a difference. But the girls look a little ragged. And the two boys aren't going to do well in there together. I don't mind kicking them out every night. They've got other places to go. Just wasn't sure if this will create stress with the hens. I feel like they will like not being molested during containment but I'm not a chicken

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, you need to remember too, that feathers are getting a bit old now, and by August and September, a lot of them will look ratty until they molt.

But pulling out roosters can be very beneficial.