How many chickens to a rooster

[shawkins]

I have a small flock 16 hens and 2 roos. I am considering getting some more, barred rocks this time, and was wanting to get sexed chicks instead of straight run. (i've already got a freezer full of roos from the last straight run). My question is this, if I want to hatch some eggs in the future, how many chickens should I have to a rooster? More specifically, I want to get about 20 hens, so how many roos should I try to get for them?

scott from TN

 

[SilkieTime]

Two

What kind of chickens do you have?

 

[mygroomshop]

I had the same question. I have RIR,Golden sexlinks, Barred Rocks and EE. I have 2 Roos(EE) I was wondering how maney Roos you needed per how maney hens? Will the Roos get along or do you need to seperate them? I want to hatch my own eggs but I am new to the Roo thing we have just had hens in the past. Thank you, Lori

 

[Gonzo]

Sounds like you have a good roo to hen ratio... They say 1 roo for every 10 hens... give or take a hen.

 

[joedie]

gonzo&hispeeps :

Sounds like you have a good roo to hen ratio... They say 1 roo for every 10 hens... give or take a hen.

I second that!​

 

[rancher hicks]

You could just stick to two roosters or even one and then have a pen for breeding. When you decide to hatch just put the chickens you want to breed together, wait two-three days. , collect the hatching eggs and then put everyone together again.

According to the recent issue of Practical Poultry. "When a cockerel is put in a pen, fertile eggs will follow as soon as the second and third day." I wouldn't think three days is enough to upset the routine of the flock. Then you could simply collect only those eggs of the hens in the breeding pen and hatch them.

Further is says. "If he's replacing another male, eggs fetilised by him will be laid in a couple of days, those fertilised by the previous male will continue, but only for about a week."
"When a male bird is removed from the breeding pen, a good nuimber of fertile eggs will be produced for a further week, falling to around 50% by day 10, and on down to 10% after three weeks; a very low percentage may even be found up to the 26th day".

Hope this helps

All the best

Rancher

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. I have had as many as 20 gals to one roo. A friend had 4 or 5 hens to one roo and the roo wore the feathers off their backs.

 

[shawkins]

SilkieTime,

I have 7 RIR hens, 9 EE hens, 1 RIR roo, and 1 EE roo. It appears that the acceptable ratio of roos to hens is 1 to 8 or 10. I am thinking of getting 20 Barred Rocks tomorrow so I will try to get two roos to go with them.

 

[SilkieTime]

That sounds good. Some times or most times roosters don't get along so maybe two pens or two roosters that get along or free range, I don't like because safety. The bigger the space the better off you are. Good luck