Ok... I have been given another coop with a run attached. I already have a coop with 8 hens in it but I was thinking of maybe getting a rooster. Now I love fresh eggs but don't really want the fertile eggs mixed with infertile eggs.. So I thought I would put rooster in the other coop with 2-4 hens and that would maybe give me some eggs to incubate in the spring.. All the while leaving my other 4 or so hens alone to produce eggs? Do you see any problem with this or should I just join the coops and let them all be together? Thanks to all! Great site!
I understand that a roo needs 10-12 hens or he will wear them out! I have had a roo in the past and the fertalized eggs are fine to eat. Gather them everyday, at least twice a day and put them in the frig. You won't have any problems. I would put them all together because with only 2 - 4 hens, the roo will end up pulling out feathers and may hurt them. Maybe someone with more experience than I will pipe in. Good luck!
I would put all the hens and the roo together if you want a roo. Keep in mind you will probably have at least one or two hens that will have bare backs. The rooster will have his "favorites" and will breed with them regularly and will wear their back feathers off. I have one roo in with 20 hens and I have several hens that have bare back. The fertilized eggs are fine to eat.
I think it all depends on the roo, concerning the over breeding situation. I have two trios. Both roos have two hens each. They are kept separate and are happy with they're families. They will fight if kept together but all the hens are happy and have all their feathers. There is no reason you should keep your separate. People have been eating fertile eggs for inifiniti and beyond. If your concern is knowing which are fertile for incubating, your roo should handle all those girls just fine
