How do most people keep their roosters?

[bugsaroo]

Here is a picture of my chicken coop. It has four individual pens indoors with access to individual runs outdoors. Each pen has 12 nests. I would like to raise four different breeds of chickens in this house. One pen for eggs layers only, no rooster. But the other three pens I would like to have roosters with the hens during the winter and spring. How many roosters do I need for 12 hens? And where do you keep them when you don't want them with the hens. Do most people have a rooster coop? I had six roosters with 12 bantam rhode island reds and they just worried the hens to death. What is the ratio of hens to roosters?

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

It depends on the breed, what were you hoping to raise

 

[clairabean]

I keep mine with the girls.

Why do you want them seperate?

 

[ekemily]

I keep mine in the freezer.....

The ratio is generally 1 rooster to 20 hens. I have 1 rooster to around 30 some odd hens. They're hard to count because they move so fast!!

All of my hatches have been 100% fertile

 

[TreeHugger]

Nice set up!

I don't know what the ratio would be.

I have a rooster pen. When I want chicks I only put one roo in with only the hens I'm wanting chicks from. 2-3 weeks later the roo goes back into the bachelor pen.

 

[chickenaddictntn]

I can't give you a answer to that because I have alot of roos and keep them to their self until I want to breed them w/ a roo of my choosing, but I just wanted to say what a cool breeding coop you have. Nice set-up.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

As a general rule I've heard one roo per 10 hens so 12 would work out good. I keep my hens in a run. I admit I didn't like seeing my hens loosing their feathers to the roo. I wasn't planning on breeding the roo so I didn't see the point in keeping him. I sold him with some hens to someone who free ranges, which is ideal. The roos could possible fight through wire so if you keep more than one roo you might want to put a pen in between the flocks with roos or you could put small 1/2 x 1/2 wire in between so they can't get to one another. Some roos can live happily alongside one another while others will fight to the death of one. If your hens are losing feathers on their backs due to over breeding (sometimes a roo will have favorites, mine did) then you can put saddles or aprons one them. Someone here on BYC sells them.

Your coop and runs are stunning! Looks like you have an ideal set up. Would love to see the coop inside and how it's arranged. I don't think you'll need 12 nests in each pen though. Most birds will share a nest. I have 16 hens and they use 2 boxes.

 

[bugsaroo]

I think I want Buff Orphington layers, no roosters. I already have some really nice Bantam Rhode Island reds with one rooster. I am looking at Dominiques, think it is sorta important to preserve heritage breeds, so those would be my major breeders. And my husband is in love with silkies.

 

[Liamm_1]

sweet setup!

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Silkie roos are generally poor breeders so you will need a roo for every 4-5 hens, some even less.