In June we got 12 chicks, supposedly all hens. We were down to 11 the next day.

As they grew a bit we began to suspect that 2 of them were roosters, but they were still too young to know for sure. Well, someone else on the property brings home a "free" rooster, because the "girls" are going to need one to be "happy". Well, I don't know about chicken happiness, but I do know a rooster isn't required for egg laying. Anyway, we quickly found out that the two suspect hens were indeed roosters, as they immediately took turns fluffing themselves up and trying to intimidate the newly arrived and much larger interloper. They seem to have settled down, though, so far. Also we have lost 3 more hens to the dog when they managed to get out of the fence. So we now have 3 roosters and only 6 hens. NOT a good ratio! But no problems yet. I imagine we'll end up having to eat 2 of them (oh, darn! lol). Mr Fancy Pants (the new guy) is a banty and I'm not sure I want banty-barred rock mixed chicks next spring, so he might end up being dinner at some point.