Almost 6 week old Ameraucana

[MidNight Wings]

When roosters mate they grape feathers to hold onto the hen, he might pull them out by mistake but he shouldn't hurt the hens on purpose.
A good balance is eight hens to one roo, that way you don't get over-mating.
He might pick out one or two favorite hens and mate more with them than anyone else; if this is the case you can buy a chicken saddle for the girls to keep him from pulling out to many fathers.

 

[Gigi1147]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

When roosters mate they grape feathers to hold onto the hen, he might pull them out by mistake but he shouldn't hurt the hens on purpose.
A good balance is eight hens to one roo, that way you don't get over-mating.
He might pick out one or two favorite hens and mate more with them than anyone else; if this is the case you can buy a chicken saddle for the girls to keep him from pulling out to many fathers.

The hen ratio really just depend on the rooster. While for one roo 4 hens mighr be good another may need 10

 

[Gigi1147]

I have 6 hens and 1 Rooster

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have 6 hens and 1 Rooster

You will just have to wait and see if that is enough. I always make sure none of my hens have bare backs. I have one roo that is really nice to his girls and 3 is enough for him and he is a brahma and they are really big and I have another that is a lot more busy and he does better with 10 hens.

 

[MidNight Wings]

CCCCCCCCCCCCHICKEN's is right, the number can vary between roosters, eight's just an average middle ground.

 

[Gigi1147]

Thanks everyone

 

[Gigi1147]

Hello Everyone once again. Here is Syd, now Rocco. At 6 months old. What a beauty!

 

[Gigi1147]