how many hens should you have per rooster

[AlotaBitCountry]

so far we have 11 chickens and 1 is believed to be a rooster, its still only a little over a month old though so we will see. but how many hens should you have per rooster in your flock?

 

[teach1rusl]

If you want a rooster for fertility/hatching, most suggest 10 or so hens per rooster. If you just have a rooster for ornamental and/or protection, then you could have many more hens, or a few less. Too few number of hens can result in overuse of those hens by the rooster = feather wear/loss.
Of course mature, mannerly roosters can be with just a few hens with no ill effects (to the hens). But it's nice to spread "the love" out when you end up with an overly hormonal young cockerel with little finesse...

 

[christineavatar]

I have 16 hens and one rooster. I put a bunch (about 25) eggs in an incubator and all but two hatched.