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how many hens should you have per rooster

post #1 of 3
4/13/12 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 

so far we have 11 chickens and 1 is believed to be a rooster, its still only a little over a month old though so we will see. but how many hens should you have per rooster in your flock?

"Treat your love like a firefly, like it only gets to shine for a little while. Catch it in a mason jar with holes in the top, & run like hell, to show it off ♥"

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"Treat your love like a firefly, like it only gets to shine for a little while. Catch it in a mason jar with holes in the top, & run like hell, to show it off ♥"

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post #2 of 3
4/13/12 at 4:26pm

If you want a rooster for fertility/hatching, most suggest 10 or so hens per rooster.  If you just have a rooster for ornamental and/or protection, then you could have many more hens, or a few less.  Too few number of hens can result in overuse of those hens by the rooster = feather wear/loss. 

Of course mature, mannerly roosters can be with just a few hens with no ill effects (to the hens).   But it's nice to spread "the love" out when you end up with an overly hormonal young cockerel with little finesse...

Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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post #3 of 3
4/13/12 at 5:11pm

I have 16 hens and one rooster. I put a bunch (about 25) eggs in an incubator and all but two hatched.

Chickens sure are fun!
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Chickens sure are fun!
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