1. How do roosters mate with hens? 2. I have two roosters. One was the alpha but has been challenged by the other. Can they live in peace or must one go? 3. Do roosters need to be separated from each other when they are in with pullets? If so, at what age? 4. Will my hens lay eggs if I don't have a rooster? 5. How many roosters do I need for my chickens? 6. When and how can I tell if a chicken is a rooster? 7. Why do roosters crow? 1. How do roosters mate with hens? top The sex organ of a rooster is located internally, inside the Cloaca, which is the opening where the feces comes out, and in the hen, the eggs. When mating, the rooster's organ is extruded (comes out) in order to place the sperm in the cloaca of the hen. The rooster "mounts" the hen, holding on with his beak to her head or neck feathers, in order to be in the proper position for fertilization to occur submitted by angie , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 2. I have two roosters. One was the alpha but has been challenged by the other. Can they live in peace or must one go? top You will not be able to make them be friends. They may work out the new positions themselves and the pecking might subside. If not you may have to find a way to let them out alternate days with the hens. A product called Blu Kote, sold in most tack stores for cuts on horses, is good to put on the injured comb to discourage more pecking and help it heal. Use a Q-tip to apply it, careful to not get it in the eyes. submitted by Nancy , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 3. Do roosters need to be separated from each other when they are in with pullets? If so, at what age? top Roosters that grow up together generally get along and may not need to be seperated. Even if one is bantam and one is a standard they could live in harmony especially if they have a large area. It is individual however and can change with age so always keep an eye out. submitted by elizabeth fountain , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 4. Will my hens lay eggs if I don't have a rooster? top Yes. A hen only needs a rooster in order to lay fertile eggs that could hatch. submitted by admin , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 5. How many roosters do I need for my chickens? top One rooster for every 8-12 hens will probably produce fertile eggs. submitted by admin , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 6. When and how can I tell if a chicken is a rooster? top It is VERY difficult to tell male from female at an early age. Depending on the breed, cockerels (males) develop larger combs and wattles earlier than pullets (females) and will start trying to crow at 6 to 10 weeks (we had one start to crow at 16 weeks - it's not a precise science, sorry!) Cockerels tend to bigger and/or taller than the pullets. You may also observe more aggressive "rooster behaviors", like play fighting, hassling, mounting and such. submitted by admin , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009 7. Why do roosters crow? top There's many reasons why A rooster crows.. He could be announcing his territory, or letting the hens know he's there. It can also be a challenge to another rooster. Why they crow when they crow, only the rooster knows for sure... submitted by BYC visitor , answered by admin , last updated Nov 20, 2009

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