Update on my cockerels and introducing my older hens

[Cheekychook12]

So a while ago I posted a thread asking about which roosters I should keep, and you all told me to wait a while before deciding, I’d like to wait a little longer before a final decision but I need to separate some into a bachelor pen very soon, because my big buff cockerel went after my favourite Chonky boy and beat him up, so I think it’s time to separate some out
I have a bachelor pen but it’s got some little 9-10 week frizzles in it at the moment, but I think I can introduce them now
My first question is which roosters should I put in the bachelor pen? Also none of the Roos are mounting the pullets yet

First is Chonky boy, (barred mottled) he’s third in the pecking order out of the five cockerels, but was attacked by no. 2 today. I’m planning to keep him long term as he is a pretty boy who treats me and the pullets very well and doesn’t crow excessively, and he’s learned tidbitting, which is cute

Second is Boris, (white and barred) he’s the very top of the pecking order, and many of the pullets follow him around, and good and protective
He recently managed to make the adult hens submit to him as leader, and he protects his younger pullets from the older hen’s bullying
I think it’s a good idea to keep him with the flock to protect the pullets from the older hens while they get acquainted
Boris isn’t the best looker and has some weird stuff going on with the feathers on one side of his body, I’ll link some pics below, he looks partially silked, it’s weird, I probably will not breed from him but he’s nice to have around

The third one is caramel (buff Colombian), second in pecking order, he’s the one who attacked Chonky boy, he’s not the nicest to the hens but isn’t actively mean to them
He has quite the set of pipes on him and is pretty noisy in the morning so I’ve been locking him in the garage overnight, which works
I probably won’t keep this guy but I’m not sure yet

Fourth is the black cockerel, he’s formed a really nice shape for the breed, better than all the other content and he has a lot of foot feathers and a nice round body and iridescent feathers
He’s still a little skittish but getting better, gets along with the girls and doesn’t crow
All my pure black chicks have the best shape, so if I wanted to try breed to the SOP he’s probably the best choice

And lastly there’s cornflake, he gets along well with everyone, doesn’t crow, decent looks but pretty small, he hasn’t changed much since my last post, except he’s more friendly to me now strangely, I think possibly because I took care of him when he was going through a very rough molt and he crawled into my lap to sleep when he was sick

My older hens have finally realised that the boss cockerel is the leader, and they had a brief scuffle with him before squatting submissively, so he is the boss now and I think I’ll be able to take down the separation fence soon hopefully, what do you all think?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would cull Caramel, Borris and Cornflake now. This will dramatically change who is left, sometimes for the better but often bad traits become very evident that you were not seeing before.

When I cull, I divide the group in half, remove half. When you pull those three, it will change the three that are left. Wait 2-3 weeks, cull one. Wait another 2-3 weeks and pick your rooster.

People tend to keep putting this off, because they think they might make a mistake and cull the wrong one. But the real mistake is keeping too many roosters in your flock.

Everyone has their own idea on the number of roosters. Personally I would not keep 2 roosters unless I had a flock and the space for a flock of 25-30. I keep a dozen hens, more or less, I have tried multiple roosters, but really my most peaceful and successful flocks are with one rooster.

 

[Cheekychook12]

I would cull Caramel, Borris and Cornflake now. This will dramatically change who is left, sometimes for the better but often bad traits become very evident that you were not seeing before.

When I cull, I divide the group in half, remove half. When you pull those three, it will change the three that are left. Wait 2-3 weeks, cull one. Wait another 2-3 weeks and pick your rooster.

People tend to keep putting this off, because they think they might make a mistake and cull the wrong one. But the real mistake is keeping too many roosters in your flock.

Everyone has their own idea on the number of roosters. Personally I would not keep 2 roosters unless I had a flock and the space for a flock of 25-30. I keep a dozen hens, more or less, I have tried multiple roosters, but really my most peaceful and successful flocks are with one rooster.

I don’t have the heart to cull them and there aren’t any aggressive behaviours showing so I’d rather rehome
I was told by two bantam breeders, one that breeds the same one as me that about 6 hens per roo is a good number
I need to keep Boris for a while to keep the peace with the older hens

 

[Cheekychook12]

Oh I take back what I said about cornflake, I think Boris taking over showed the other cockerels they don’t have to be scared of the older hens
I think he may have tried to mount one of them that tried to bully a pullet

 

[Mrs. K]

I don’t have the heart to cull them and there aren’t any aggressive behaviours showing so I’d rather rehome
I was told by two bantam breeders, one that breeds the same one as me that about 6 hens per roo is a good number

Culling just means removing from the flock. Re homing can be difficult to near impossible, so just don't fall into the trap that 'I am going to keep them all until a perfect home is found.'

Do know that there is a very real possibility that none of these roosters might work out. Cockerels are a crapshoot. And even with careful culling, and picking what you think today is the best...there is a real chance that after all that, the last one gets rotten. There is just really is no knowing.

As I said, everyone has a different idea as to how many roosters to keep. The least number of cockerels or roosters tends to work best. Most do not get the idea of sharing hens, most will want all of the hens, and will fight to do so. A lot depends on your coop/run, type and size of birds, and a lot of luck. What will work this time, may not work next time.

If you really can't cull (and a lot of people can't) you probably should not breed and hatch eggs. The cockerel problem gets worse and worse.

MRs K

 

[Ridgerunner]

So a while ago I posted a thread asking about which roosters I should keep,

I'll link that other thread if anyone is interested.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/which-two-roosters-look-the-most-promising.1648441/

I need to separate some into a bachelor pen very soon, because my big buff cockerel went after my favourite Chonky boy and beat him up, so I think it’s time to separate some out

The decision is easy. In both threads you are clear that Chonky Boy is your favorite. Put all of them except Chonky Boy in that bachelor pen.

Sometimes this stuff can be hard but when it is this easy, just do it. Don't make excuses, just do it.

 

[Mrs. K]

Very good advice ^^^^ and anything you don't like, for what ever reason, go with that too.

 

[Cheekychook12]

I'll link that other thread if anyone is interested.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/which-two-roosters-look-the-most-promising.1648441/


The decision is easy. In both threads you are clear that Chonky Boy is your favorite. Put all of them except Chonky Boy in that bachelor pen.

Sometimes this stuff can be hard but when it is this easy, just do it. Don't make excuses, just do it.

I’d like to keep two if possible just because I want some colour variation

 

[Cheekychook12]

Very good advice ^^^^ and anything you don't like, for what ever reason, go with that too.

I don’t dislike any of them though that’s the problem..

 

[Cheekychook12]

Culling just means removing from the flock. Re homing can be difficult to near impossible, so just don't fall into the trap that 'I am going to keep them all until a perfect home is found.'

Do know that there is a very real possibility that none of these roosters might work out. Cockerels are a crapshoot. And even with careful culling, and picking what you think today is the best...there is a real chance that after all that, the last one gets rotten. There is just really is no knowing.

As I said, everyone has a different idea as to how many roosters to keep. The least number of cockerels or roosters tends to work best. Most do not get the idea of sharing hens, most will want all of the hens, and will fight to do so. A lot depends on your coop/run, type and size of birds, and a lot of luck. What will work this time, may not work next time.

If you really can't cull (and a lot of people can't) you probably should not breed and hatch eggs. The cockerel problem gets worse and worse.

MRs K

I have a huge fenced yard that I’ll let them free range in during the day with plenty of bushes to hide in, and two pens that I can use if needed for the night/bad weather