Can you just have 3 hens with one rooster?

[ging3rhoffman]

Can you have just 3 hens with one rooster?

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Sure can. But just watch he may over "mate" them. But thats not a sure thing.

 

[the_great_snag]

It's common practice for breeders and the bird show folks to run their birds in trios or quads, which is 1 rooster and 2 or 3 hens.

This is intended (I believe) to ensure good fertility rates.

I think "overuse" of the hens can occur no matter what your ratio of roosters to hens. It usually seems to happen to one unfortunate hen out of the group rather than all the hens.

Protective saddles are available for protecting any "popular" hens you may have.