How many hens for each cock?

[PaintedMeadows]

We have about 12 pullets I think (12 weeks old) and 13 roos same age. We have decided on keeping 2 roos for sure but my daughter has become really attached to a 3rd roo. Would that be too many for the 12 hens? They would all be living together in a run and large coop and free ranged during the day. That would be a total of 15 chickens.

 

[thechickenchick]

I was told 1 roo per 10 hens is a good ratio. I am interested to see what others say though. I have 19 hens and 2 roos! One is my silkie and he doesn't seem to mate, just makes alot of noise. He may still be a little young for that though.

 

[Chirpy]

I have also always heard that 1 Roo for every 10 hens is a good ratio.

I think that 2 roosters for 12 hens is very likely too many. Maybe if the boys get along really well and don't fight over the hens it would work though. I wouldn't have 3 roos with only 12 hens.

Maybe others with more experience in this area will chime in and give you their personal experience with extra roos for a small number of girls.

 

[dangerouschicken]

2 is too many and 3 is really too many. They will tag team on the girls and it will be horrible for them. If you want to keep that many roosters, you should have a seperate space for them that is not around females. Maybe you can make another coop/run for a second roo and 2 of your hens? That's what I have done, and it really helps. Trust me, the hens will be in terror with that many roos.

 

[werblessd1s]

Sorry, I can't answer your post, the title just struck me funny.

 

[PaintedMeadows]

Dang. I am really attached to my boy who is an EE and we want to keep an orpington roo for the orp girls. Hmmm. Maybe I can talk hubby into a seperate coop. We are free ranging them with my horses to keep the bugs down etc and I do have 2 seperate herds. lol. Good reason to have 2 groups. Well, we will definitely sell the 3 dark brahma roos that my daughter is attached too. Just can't bear to kill the 3 that she loves on. The rest of the roos will make yummy dinners! Mm, mm, good! lol. Werblessed, so you like my title eh? lol. I never thought of it when I typed it! tee hee.

Another question, if we added more pullets could it work then and have them all housed together? Or do they still have to be seperated?

 

[Chirpy]

If you had closer to 20 pullets, then you could most likely keep 2 roosters.

 

[PaintedMeadows]

OK, thank you. I will just have to bat puppy eyes at hubby for a second coop.

 

[zippychickens]

I had 2 roosters and 14 hens. They would gang up on the hens it was aweful. We ate one rooster, and now the hens are MUCH happier.

 

[ChickenToes]

I have 3 roos and 16 hens...and I am not liking it. One is particularly irritating and mean to the hens. We named him Stewpot, Stewy for short. That boy has got to go!