How many hens for each cock?

[pkeeler]

Why don't you include the one your daughter likes as one of the two you keep? If it is a breeding thing, maybe you could capon your daughter's favorite.

I think you might be able to get away with 2 roos for 12 hens in a free range flock. I'd be interested to know if the people that have had problems with a too high a roo/hen ratio were free ranging or not.

 

[dangerouschicken]

Well, to answer that, no. Mine were not free-ranged. But if they still have access to the same coop at night/in winter, I can guarantee it will be a bummer for those poor hens.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Do a search on here for "rooster bachelor pad." There was a thread going a while ago with ideas for how to keep roosters separate from hens so that they wouldn't fight.