How many ladies for one rooster?

[littlels]

How many hens can 1 rooster successfully handle? We would like our eggs to be fertile or at least the great majority of the time. He had 8 hens with him and every egg was fertile. We now added 4 more hens which doesn't seem like it would make much of a difference but when do we need to halt with the hens because he can't keep up?

 

[donrae]

I've always read ten hens to one roo is optimal for fertility. Personally, I think a roo can cover more hens, esp considering a hen remains fertile up to two weeks after one mating.

 

[mama dixie]

just had to post a reply for this,,, two weeks are you kidding me... gees if I were a roo I would not wanting that info to get out, especially to the hens..