Hens or Roosters?

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

Does anybody know the ratio of male to female when a hen lays eggs? Is there a certain percentage overall or does it differ from breed to breed? I'm just curious and can"t seem to find an answer, thanks

 

[Illia]

What do you mean? - What's a good ratio for fertility, or a good ratio that doesn't put stress on the hens?

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
i like about 1 cock every 10 hens un less ur rooster lazy like silkie witch then 1 cock for every 5 hens

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
im guessing fertility

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I meant whats the ratio of roosters to chicks hatched? For every egg hatched how many should be roosters?

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
there is not telling on silkies seem like there 80% boys my polish 50 ]50

 

[Judy]

Over the long run, half will be male, half female.

 

[donrae]

Quote:
Yep. Some hatches will be skewed mostly female, some mostly male, but each egg has a fifty fifty percent of being female. Or male. Just like every other animal.

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

Ok I really thought that more chicks would have hatched as females due to the fact that everybody I know with chickens has more hens then roosters.... I just figured it was an evolution thing...

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, most folks, especially those raising hens for eggs, would have very little use for very many roosters. The hatch ratio is 50/50. But the reality is that most of the rooster are unwanted and not needed. Most hatcheries producing chicken breeds, which are intended for egg production, dispatch (kill) most the hatched roosters.

When folks raise meat birds, the rooster is preferred for it's larger body type. But in the egg world, hens outnumber rooster thousands to one. Just the way it is.