I'm curious what the seasoned chicken experts on here believe to be the ideal ratio of roosters to hens in a chicken coop.
Assume the following:
1) The chicken coop will be accommodating 140 mature Standard chickens at 4 sq ft / chicken.
2) The particular roosters in the chicken coop aren't aggressive fighters, territorial or destructive, but can be isolated if necessary.
3) The purpose of the hens is simply to be productive egg layers.
4) Both roosters and chickens get a good 4 to 6 hours/day outdoors (weather permitting) either in a large run or free-ranging, so they're not stressed from being cooped-up.
5) All of the chickens in the coop are approximately the same age and size.
6) The roosters are being kept around both to fertilize the eggs for future breeding purposes, as well as to offer some genetic diversity when it comes to breeding.
7) There will be 15 hens each of 7 breeds.
Here's my question: How many roosters should there be of each breed, relative to the number of hens? 1 to 15? 2 to 15? 3 to 15? 4 to 15?
I appreciate your feedback!
John
Assume the following:
1) The chicken coop will be accommodating 140 mature Standard chickens at 4 sq ft / chicken.
2) The particular roosters in the chicken coop aren't aggressive fighters, territorial or destructive, but can be isolated if necessary.
3) The purpose of the hens is simply to be productive egg layers.
4) Both roosters and chickens get a good 4 to 6 hours/day outdoors (weather permitting) either in a large run or free-ranging, so they're not stressed from being cooped-up.
5) All of the chickens in the coop are approximately the same age and size.
6) The roosters are being kept around both to fertilize the eggs for future breeding purposes, as well as to offer some genetic diversity when it comes to breeding.
7) There will be 15 hens each of 7 breeds.
Here's my question: How many roosters should there be of each breed, relative to the number of hens? 1 to 15? 2 to 15? 3 to 15? 4 to 15?
I appreciate your feedback!
John