28 chickens, 4 roosters, 24 hens... 1 roo to 6 hens, good ratio???

[CalebtheChicken]

I've always herd 1 roo to 10 hens, but I hate to get rid of birds... is 1:6 a reasonable ratio??

 

[Ridgerunner]

What are your goals? How much room do you have? What breeds? Were they raised together? How do you manage them? For me that number of roosters is not reasonable but it may be for you. We are all different. These threads may help you determine what to expect and help make your decision.

Number of roosters thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219443

Managing multiple roosters
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=229968

Good luck!

 

[Boyd]

what he said, plus a 10-1 ratio seems to keep the ladies with their feathers on longer.....

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I like at least 1 roo per 5 hens myself.

 

[usschicago1]

Your Ratio Is Fine

 

[MrChicken207]

Unless your hens are getting plucked alive, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you wanted alot of fertile eggs.

 

[sourland]

The ratio is fine, but even with enough hens' roosters sometimes try to breed the same hen. This gang breeding can get pretty rough and there is the possibility of physical damage to the hens if the roosters are large. With two roosters in a flock, one is boss and the other is subordinate. With four roosters there may be continual jousting for control.

 

[CalebtheChicken]

Quote:
At the moment there are 2 dominate roos, a Cochin and Delaware, and 2 lower rank roos, two mutts. The two dominates are the only ones that crow and try and breed (so far), the other two just forage and hide if the dominators come by.

 

[DragonEggs]

Sounds like my flock LOL.