Correct ratio (if it exists) for Hens to Roos

[RW1984]

Thanks for that input. Interesting on the ratio percentage. Yes, they're all raised together from 2 weeks old. I am not familiar with saddles. Is there an article on that on this site? Or a particular forum to look at? Not knowing anything about it, a chicken saddle sounds awfully uncomfortable and a nuisance for hens, but that's just my initial reaction. Thanks again.

They mean a saddle cause when the roo mates they ride the hen, they grab by their neck and hop onto their shoulders and hold on with their talons and ride.

side note, I have 38 birds and 7 are Roos. They were all raised together and seem to get along well. They free range at times but are kept in their run while I’m gone. They have plenty of clutter and activities in there as well as space.
Their 19 weeks old and I’ve only seen them start mating in the last week or two once the boys figured out they can just take what they want when it comes to the girls.
A couple are the favorites so I’ve been keeping an eye out to make sure they do t get abused.
Just watch as they grow and see how they interact
I’m sure you’ll be ok though

 

[CrazyTownChick]

I’ve had a roo with 6 hens and they did fine, for me I’d do NO less than 4. It really depends on the roo and how often he mates them.

Yes, makes sense. how do you know how often he mates them?

 

[RW1984]

Thanks for that, it gives us another possible guideline. So if we ended up with two roos, we would be ok with 11 hens. But if we ended up with 3 or 4, we may have to rehome the meanest ones.
So far at 8 weeks, none of them are mean. They all seem quite sweet and friendly. A few are starting to assert their dominance but I haven't seen any meanness yet. A few squabbles in the coop at night once the door is closed, but we don't know who's doing what to whom. I think that's normal as they decide their pecking order and claim their roost space?

Yes that’s normal. Mine make all sorts of racket when they get into their coop as they shuffle about and find who’s roosting where. Just walk away and do your best to ignore their noise lol

 

[ILoveBabySilkies]

Yes, makes sense. how do you know how often he mates them?

Just watch him, the amount of times he mates can vary day to day but usually he won’t mate too often.

 

[RW1984]

Yes, makes sense. how do you know how often he mates them?

Just watch them for a day or so. You’ll be able to see. When you see him grab a girl and mount her, he’s mating. See how often he does it and to which hens. But that won’t happen for a few more weeks yet most likely

 

[ILoveBabySilkies]

Yes, makes sense. how do you know how often he mates them?

If he does end up mating a lot and it’s showing on the hens I would get rid of him because even having a lot of hens, Roos will chose favorites and will really take a number in the poor favorites of his. Unless of course you get saddles on his favorites. (If he does overmate)

 

[CrazyTownChick]

They mean a saddle cause when the roo mates they ride the hen, they grab by their neck and hop onto their shoulders and hold on with their talons and ride.

side note, I have 38 birds and 7 are Roos. They were all raised together and seem to get along well. They free range at times but are kept in their run while I’m gone. They have plenty of clutter and activities in there as well as space.
Their 19 weeks old and I’ve only seen them start mating in the last week or two once the boys figured out they can just take what they want when it comes to the girls.
A couple are the favorites so I’ve been keeping an eye out to make sure they do t get abused.
Just watch as they grow and see how they interact
I’m sure you’ll be ok though

Good to know! This is the question of a newby...so do all 7 Roos know who "their particular hens are"? Do they have "their own girls," or do they all share all? Do you keep a roo separate with the hens he mates with? Or they're all mixed in, so one hen may get overused by the roos and others may not get used at all?

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Just watch them for a day or so. You’ll be able to see. When you see him grab a girl and mount her, he’s mating. See how often he does it and to which hens. But that won’t happen for a few more weeks yet most likely

Geeze, I hope not, I'm not ready for that! hahahaha! (and I raised a son and daughter to adulthood, now 13 chickens!) I'll sit down with them and have a chat about waiting a while to mate. Delayed gratification and all.

 

[ILoveBabySilkies]

Good to know! This is the question of a newby...so do all 7 Roos know who "their particular hens are"? Do they have "their own girls," or do they all share all? Do you keep a roo separate with the hens he mates with? Or they're all mixed in, so one hen may get overused by the roos and others may not get used at all?

Well if you have the Roos free range together there will be a dominant roo. While the hens are in the dominant Roos sight of any Roos below him try to mate with them he will attack the opposing roo trying to mate. If you mix the Roos together with the appropriate amount of hens there shouldn’t really be any problems. If you keep the Roos separate and give them their own hens they will have their own girls.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

If he does end up mating a lot and it’s showing on the hens I would get rid of him because even having a lot of hens, Roos will chose favorites and will really take a number in the poor favorites of his. Unless of course you get saddles on his favorites. (If he does overmate)

OK, once again I'm showing my ignorance. Where can I find a picture of a saddle and how it works. I guess somewhere on BYC, right?