How many hens?

[Suzierd]

How many hens do you keep with your Rooster? Do you really need ten or more if you just have one Rooster? Has anybody kept less and it works out fine. My Abby turned into a Roo now called Blaze and I only have five hens. Will this be enough? I hate to get rid of him he's a beautiful guy and so far has showed no aggression to me. What do you think? Will it work?

 

[BantamLover21]

Sometimes having a rooster with fewer than 10 hens works, and other times it doesn't. It depends on the temperament of the rooster, and whether or not he overmates the hens. I'd just keep him with the hens, monitor his behavior, and hope that it works out.

 

[Wyandottes7]

It really depends on the rooster. Some roosters will seriously harm hens, even if there are more than ten. Others will be just fine with only a few hens. Personally, though, I'd keep at least eight hens with each rooster. You don't want to make the hens' lives miserable.

 

[Suzierd]

It seems that even if you have lots of hens they seem to have their favorite. My Roo in my other coop will breed with his favorites and some hens he pays no mind to.
I will keep a eye on him so far he favored a older hen that I separated from him till my other girls get more mature. Hoping they can all be together soon.