Does age matter for hen/roo ratio?

[NNations]

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 ...

Yes, definitely doing a health check before purchase. Thanks!
We have an integration pen we plan on putting them in for a month...assuming I can find hens that is. Some are expensive! Kind of why I was hoping I could get away with getting pullets, that and less risk of ending up with a sick chicken.

 

[Doc7]

Yes, definitely doing a health check before purchase. Thanks!
We have an integration pen we plan on putting them in for a month...assuming I can find hens that is. Some are expensive! Kind of why I was hoping I could get away with getting pullets, that and less risk of ending up with a sick chicken.

I think day old chicks are the least risk of getting a sick chicken.

 

[aart]

I think day old chicks are the least risk of getting a sick chicken.

Ditto Dat^^^ and depends on where you get the chicks.
Hatchery chicks are the safest.
If you buy chicks from a local 'breeder' the risk can go back up.

Hen/roo ratio is not determined by age...or any hard numbers.
It's dependent on individuals behaviors and sometimes space.

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

Because roosters really do not get the those are his ladies and these are mine.

Well, usually... but sometimes they will divvy up the girls and live in relative peace.

 

[NNations]

Ditto Dat^^^ and depends on where you get the chicks.
Hatchery chicks are the safest.
If you buy chicks from a local 'breeder' the risk can go back up.

Hen/roo ratio is not determined by age...or any hard numbers.
It's dependent on individuals behaviors and sometimes space.

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

Well, usually... but sometimes they will divvy up the girls and live in relative peace.

Thank you! I always value your opinion and advice! We have a local feed store that gets their chicks from a hatchery. They have a bunch of different breeds in that are 3 months old which I would love to get BUT if my older boy needs some hens then I’ll see what kind of hens they have. My cockerel is a OEGB and is not aggressive. I am hoping his son will be the same way once we get through the hormonal stage he is about to go through. We shall see.

 

[NNations]

This is the inside of the new coop. The roosting logs are 10ft long.


This is the coop, hard to tell the size but they should have plenty of space. They free range during the day.


And this is my older cockerel. Tiny and gentle. He came out perfect after his training through the hormonal stage.