How many hens can I have without a rooster?

[Camille13]

I am just curious if anyone has any experience with a larger flock without a rooster. I have 7 full grown laying hens, one broody that is taking care of 4 chicks(I am pretty sure one is a rooster already, due to comb development), and 4 7 week old chicks. I don't think we can have roosters where we live, and I don't want to get woken up by one. My kids already do that!
Right now I have the 4, 7 week old chicks in their own coop, and want to move the coop within the run (it is a big run, technically big enough for 30 chickens) but don't know if this will bring chaos to a calm crowd. The mama and babies all get along, thanks to the good mama. No one pecks anyone's feathers, and they are currently happy and beautiful. Should I not mess with a good thing? The coop in the run is technically big enough for 14 birds, but I never planned on more than 10. Just thought they would like the room.

 

[gryeyes]

You can have a flock of HUNDREDS of hens without a rooster. Unless you want chicks from them, or fertilized eggs for some other reason, you don't need a rooster at all for an egg-laying business.

 

[vstoltzfus]

As the previous poster said, you don't need a rooster at all to get eggs. A rooster will certainly change the dynamics of your flock. Was there a particular reason you want/thought you need a rooster?

 

[Camille13]

I thought I had heard that after about 10 hens you needed a rooster to establish the pecking order. Is this not true? I am definitely not worried about fertilized eggs, and my hens so far seem quite content without a rooster. I also don't want one due to the noise. This would simplify my chicken life drastically! THanks!

 

[gryeyes]

Ahh, you got the idea slightly wrong. IF you want to get fertilized eggs, you need a rooster for around every 10 hens.

Pecking order will be established within your flock of hens just fine without a rooster.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

They will establish a pecking order with or without a rooster. They start doing this as chicks.

And, I understand what you mean about the rooster. I couldn't take mine anymore and he went to freezer camp!

 

[Me & My Peeps]

Quote:
Translated that means; " Left on their own, females will work it out by arguing amongst themselves

"

 

[TM Chickens]

Me & My Peeps :

Quote:
Translated that means; " Left on their own, females will work it out by arguing amongst themselves

"

 

[calicokat]

Just to clarify - 10 to 14 hens isn't a large flock yet . . . . . . . . . you need to get busy getting more chickens

 

[Camille13]

Thanks everyone for the good and humorous advice! I know, relativity speaking 15 chickens isn't that many, but I live on a 10th of an acre lot in a densely packed mountain community. I am not even sure if I am allowed to have chickens! But lots of people do, and no one would ever complain, and we are on the end of town. So, I think I am going to try integrating all of them into one flock. Thanks!