Can I keep my rooster?

[Alydup]

I have 2 pullets, a hen and a cockerel. The pullets and cockerel were raised together from chicks and are very tight knit. I have read that you should have 6 hens per rooster but is it possible that 1 male could live with 3 females? My cockerel has recently started crowing and none of my neighbors have noticed nor do they care if I am to keep him but I want a happy flock too of course! I am planning at this point to just wait and see how things play out and I have a back up farm for my cockerel but I was just curious if anyone else has successfully had a rooster with only 3 hens?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Why, yes you can keep your rooster! Just make sure that he doesn’t begin to over-mate the ladies!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I currently have a flock with a rooster, two cockerels, a hen, and a pullet. I think it depends a lot on the rooster's personality. Also, my flock is a bantam flock, so it might not be the same with your chickens.

 

[alexa009]

It really just depends on the rooster, I would fully trust my rooster with just one hen. I had originally kept him with two hens and he never would over breed them. You couldn't even tell they were missing one feather from their back.

 

[Alydup]

Ok good to know! Thanks! I will keep my eye on things. So far he’s very gentle and calm but it is too early to make a long term call. I was going to just go ahead and give him away because I figured I would have to but it seems a total shame. I also notice the gals don’t get along as well when he isn’t around.