Help! How many hens should I have?

[RaisingGentlemen]

I definitely want 6 hens and I won't be eating them ever! Theyre family!

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

You want to breed? You need to figure out right now what you will do with the extra males you will hatch. You're going to have to learn to let some go or have a bachelor pen. If you can afford to keep feeding nonproductive birds year after year, that's great, but not practical for many of us. Especially if you want to try to make money at it.

You need to keep an eye on things and have a plan in place so you can act immediately when (not *if* but *when*) things go south. Once those hormones hit, your pullets will be chased and harassed relentlessly. A few years ago I had equal numbers of pullets and cockerels, and when the testosterone poisoning hit those boys, the pullets couldn't eat, drink, dust bathe or even just lay around in the grass because there would be multiple cockerels after them. It can get ugly real fast.

Ok. I will. I'm not 100% what I want to do yet but I know I'd need to let go if I did want to hatch some silkies! We have friends for that: I do have friends that can help if I need to regime a rooster too I just wasn't sure how old they are when the testosterone would hit.

 

[bobbi-j]

I definitely want 6 hens and I won't be eating them ever! Theyre family!

Honestly, with 6 pullets, I'd get rid of all the cockerels. Find them new homes if you can't eat them, and don't ask questions. If you really want a cockerel for your flock, hang on to one. If you do decide to keep one, I would suggest teaching it to respect your space starting now.

The "hen to rooster ratio" that is often quoted here is generally one used by larger hatcheries to ensure optimum fertility. Backyard flocks are different. You can have 1 rooster to 15 hens and still have one or two that are barebacked because the rooster has his favorites. You can have 1 rooster and 2 hens in a breeding pen and not have any problems. Much depends on the rooster's personality. One thing is for sure. More cockerels than pullets is always a problem for the pullets.

 

[bobbi-j]

Ok. I will. I'm not 100% what I want to do yet but I know I'd need to let go if I did want to hatch some silkies! We have friends for that: I do have friends that can help if I need to regime a rooster too I just wasn't sure how old they are when the testosterone would hit.

Eventually your friends will run out of room for your unwanted chickens, or you're going to run out of friends that will take them.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you have a hard time rehoming cockerels now, then... breeding future replacement birds should not be part of your future. And, as BJ states, you will find that people do not want pet roosters.

 

[aart]

Ditto all that @bobbi-j and @lazy gardener said.

...and will reiterate the:
-don't hatch if you can't feed or eat the males because no one else will want most of them either, unless they want to eat them. Silkie meat is a delicacy in some cultural communities.

...and:
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.

 

[RWise]

I have a hard time giving away roosters/cockerel, nobody here wants them. Well I kinda agree, I get a rotisserie chicken for $6, hot juicy and ready to eat. So why would anyone want to go get a free bird and do all the work? Most likely fuel is going to cost that $6,,,,

 

[aart]

So why would anyone want to go get a free bird and do all the work? Most likely fuel is going to cost that $6,,,,

People who don't have $6 and cook anyway...or appreciate a non-factory bird.

 

[lazy gardener]

Aart, IIRC, it's you who puts those cockerels on the grill while they are still young, even though there may not be a lot of meat there. I need to remember that, the next time I have cockerels getting "randy" in the grow out pen. Do you give them the 72 hour rest period in the fridge before grilling? Do you marinade? If so, what do you use for that?

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

If you have a hard time rehoming cockerels now, then... breeding future replacement birds should not be part of your future. And, as BJ states, you will find that people do not want pet roosters.

I don't have a hard time finding places for them at all. My friends want me to hatch some silkies. These are multiple friends with large farms. It would not be a large or continuous amount. The "hard time" would be because I love all animals and would love to keep all of them. It does make it easier when friends want them. I would never try to have more birds if I wasn't 100% sure I had wanting homes for the males, which I do.