Does age matter for hen/roo ratio?

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Songster
May 1, 2018
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Fredericksburg, Texas
Does anyone know if when they say 5-10 girls per rooster do they need to be of laying age or can I get pullets and they’ll be happy?

Back story:
I have my original cockerel that’ll be 1 in March and his baby boy is currently 3 months. We are trying to grow our flock so they can hopefully get along because we love them both. The 3 month old cockerel has 5 pullets the same age and our almost 1 year old cockerel is down to 3 laying pullets so we know we need to give him some more girls to keep the peace. In my head I was thinking they needed to be laying pullets or hens for him, is that the case or can I just get some more pullets and it’s just a numbers game to them?

Thank you for your time! Yall are always so helpful.
 
I'm not sure if you mean laying breeds of pullets but if you meant your pullets are laying then they are already hens. 5-10 hens per rooster is usually the rule if you have multiple roosters, a single rooster can do good with just one hen, 3 is fine. If he is a cockerel then he might be to aggressive with any number of hens, birds like this should be culled. Cockerels are inexperienced but usually learn quickly so if he is really beating up on your hens when he mates then you need to get rid of him. Pullets don't want to mate unless they are ready to start laying so ideally you don't want to have any bird breeding with pullets because it is completely unnecessary but they will survive. You can add more pullets if he is not being gentle enough with the three. Mature hens might beat the pullets up so be careful with that.
 
Last edited:
Are you thinking of buying POL pullets? If so, Yes the older cockrell will want a few more pullets ...

Female chickens under the age of one year are still considered pullets, whether they have laid an egg or not.
 
Kessel23 said:
I'm not sure if you mean laying breeds of pullets but if you meant your pullets are laying then they are already hens. 5-10 hens per rooster is usually the rule if you have multiple roosters, a single rooster can do good with just one hen, 3 is fine. If he is a cockerel then he might be to aggressive with any number of hens, birds like this should be culled. Cockerels are inexperienced but usually learn quickly so if he is really beating up on your hens when he mates then you need to get rid of him. Pullets don't want to mate unless they are ready to start laying so ideally you don't want to have any bird breeding with pullets because it is completely unnecessary but they will survive. You can add more pullets if he is not being gentle enough with the three. Mature hens might beat the pullets up so be careful with that.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I thought they weren't called hens until they were 1 year old which is why I called them laying pullets. My almost 1 year old cockerel is a gentlemen, he is a little bantam and aggression is not an issue. I am hoping his son will be the same way. So far his son is showing all the good rooster qualities but I know time and training will tell.
 
I am not sure how you mean the younger son has 5 pullets and the older bird has three. Do you have them separated? Because roosters really do not get the those are his ladies and these are mine. Each rooster will want them all. Now sometimes a father/son set up will work, time will tell, sometimes it does not.

MrsK
 
Mrs. K said:
I am not sure how you mean the younger son has 5 pullets and the older bird has three. Do you have them separated? Because roosters really do not get the those are his ladies and these are mine. Each rooster will want them all. Now sometimes a father/son set up will work, time will tell, sometimes it does not.

MrsK
Click to expand...
Yes, they have been separated for integration purposes. They free range together now just fine and will sleep together soon. We are finishing up the new coop for them all.
 
When you buy more full grown birds ... your cockrell will not care if they are 2 year old hens ... ;)

Make sure you check them over real good ... check for signs of mites and lice, how are they breathing? Eyes clear and bright? look at their vent too!

Then you should have a quarantine plan too ...
 

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