Cross Breeding Polish Roosters with My Hens?

[Mojave78]

Hi Everyone,

This is my fist post on BYC and my first time raising chickens. In January I bought 6 chicks at random from the local feed bin. I wanted to raise chickens for eggs alone and not to breed. I ended up with two long Island Red hens, one Sussex hen and one Ameraucana hen. I also ended up with two Polish roosters.

My question's are:
1.Do I have enough hens for two roosters?

2. If they cross breed will the hybrid hens be good egg layers? From everything I've read so far polish hens are not the best egg layers?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[mrchicks]

Hi! And welcome to BYC!

From my experience no, you don't have enough hens for 2 roosters. I keep one Polish cross rooster over 6 hens right now, and one Jersey Giant roo over a mixed flock of 20 hens. 2 roos in there fight. I'm watching the pen with the 6 hens to make sure they are not being over bred.

I have Polish/Cuckoo Marans, and Polish/Egger crosses and they lay very nicely. My 6 Polish hens give me 5 eggs a day, the eggs are not large, but they are a nice white egg.

 

[Michael OShay]

From my experience no, you don't have enough hens for 2 roosters.

X2 on the mrchicks regarding not enough hens. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many roosters will become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their backs and necks, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. I would get rid of one of those roosters and at least double the number of hens. With regard to fertilizing eggs for hatching, 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens. I've raised Polish and bred Polish roosters with other breeds, and it's impossible to say what kind of lay rate your offspring will have. Polish are an unusual breed in that they can be either quite good layers or quite poor layers. Some of my Polish hens gave me 5 eggs per hen per week; others 2 eggs per hen per week. Also, as mrchicks said, you should be aware that Polish eggs tend to be on the smaller side.

 

[Mojave78]

Thanks to everyone for the great response

I now know they need to be separated from the hens or find one of them a new home. I really like having these roosters and wasn't planing on breeding chickens or having more than 6 in my yard. I have to make a dissension and contemplate my options.

Thank You,

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks to everyone for the great response

I now know they need to be separated from the hens or find one of them a new home. I really like having these roosters and wasn't planing on breeding chickens or having more than 6 in my yard. I have to make a dissension and contemplate my options.

Thank You,

You're welcome; and good luck with your flock. )