1 roo to 3 hens ratio?

[DUCKGIRL89]

...maybe I can convince her to let me get a roo? Lol! Although she doesnt like roos out in the yard.. She really doesnt like roos....

 

[ChickenWisperer]

I would NEVER have any less than 8 hens for 1 roo, unless you're a breeder working with multiple setups (which you aren't) or you're freeranging (even then, I wouldn't recommend any less). It's rough and unfair to the ladies - they won't be happy.

When I had my Ameraucana roosters Ramses, he successfully serviced 15 hens with a 94% fertility rate, just as an idea.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Enven if I get them saddles? Looks like four is all I can get anyway...

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
The saddles will help, but it won't prevent them from being plucked bald and being ridden excessively without lots of freeranging. Even with all of those hens, there were still certain girls - favorites - who were bald headed and would run at the sight of Ramses. At the time I wasn't able to freerange for the larger part of the day often enough to give them relief and I had no way of giving them breaks from him without being unfair to him. They were my pets so I made the decision to rehome him in favor of my hens being happy.... as soon as he left, they were back to their loving selves.

It's your decision - you'll just have to decide if it's worth it to the hens

 

[JodyJo]

I concur....the girls would be so stressed, your egg production would fall off and they wouldn't be happy at all....