Formula for hen amd rooster size?

Jeninoz

Songster
Jan 25, 2019
41
58
104
Perth, Australia
Hi everyone!
Is there a formula somewhere for hen v rooster size or does it just depend on breed and manners? Eg should the hens weight to roosters weight not go below 1:2 for example (eg 500g hen and 1kg roo?)
 
There's no 'formula', it's more about avoiding huge extremes, and rooster behavior.
For example, here we have Belgian d'Uccles and Chanteclers, so some hens around 700g and roosters 4kg or slightly larger. Nobody has ever been injured either.
I would be concerned having Seramas and Brahmas, for example, although we have never had tiny birds like the Seramas, or roosters weighing 6kg.
Mary
 
I agree with Mary, there is no formula. When chickens mate, the hen squats. That gets her body onto the ground where the rooster's weight is spread out and gets into the ground through her body instead of just going through her legs. It's like a car tire running over a flat area, the pressure isn't very high but if it runs over a nail sticking up you get a flat. The hen's instinct is to get flat on the ground to protect her legs.

The rooster does stand on her back. His toes are generally so spread out that pressure isn't that bad but it's more concentrated. The more difference in weight the more the risk, but as Mary says many people have bantam hens and full sized roosters without issues. The risk is not zero but it isn't as bad as you'd think.
 

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