How many hens can a Plymouth Rock rooster handle?

[RockStar1]

Hey guys I'm going to breed Plymouth rocks and I was just wondering how many hens my rooster will be able to mate. I've got 8 hens for him already, is that too many or not enough?

He's only 18 weeks old.

 

[Fred's Hens]

He'll not be doing any meaningful mounting for another two months. I'd say your ratio is just about right. Are you going to single breed or flock breed? How do you intend to identify the chicks, as to which dam produced them?

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[LoveThemBirds]

I would say at least lower his.number.

He isn't willing to care,just mate.

 

[RockStar1]

Thanks for the answers guys! I'm going to flock breed. So that I can get light barred and dark barred chicks.

 

[Michael OShay]

I would say at least lower his.number.

He isn't willing to care,just mate.

I wouldn't lower the number any. The most commonly recommended ration of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens as too many roosters (as they mature) will become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially injuring them. Since Barred Rocks are generally pretty docile as roosters go, you can probably get by with 8 hens just fine as long as they are not overcrowded, but there's no reason to reduce the number of hens to less than that. For breeding purposes, 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens. I've bred Barred Rocks on a number of occasions with ratios that fell within that range, and had a very good hatch rate with those ratios. Furthermore, your hens will be less stressed and likely lay better if there are more of them for the rooster to spread out his attentions on.

 

[familyfarm1]

Hello

and Welcome to BYC!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2 on Michael's advice.

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree with Michael, if despite that, the rooster has a favorite girl - do her a favor and get her a good chicken apron to at least protect her back from rooster mayhem

 

[RockStar1]

Thanks heaps guys!!!