How many roos are too many?

[Pam Allan]

I've had 7 or 8 hens with 2 roosters and they kept the hens without feathers on their backs. It was awful - they were practically bald. And the roosters were fighting - I have one now and one not quite mature who I will give away. (One of my hens went broody and hatched 9 babies - 4 of which were boys - I've gotten rid of 3 of those) I've found one rooster per 10 or more hens is the best. The hens are much less stressed having more women to share the "love" with.

 

[sourland]

As they mature, some may become human aggressive. Cull them. Some may become over aggressive to the hens. Cull them. If you are lucky, 1 or 2 may be good to you and the hens. Keep them. Give it time and make your decisions as problems arise. 5 roosters together with that number of hens will probably cause problems at some time in the future.

 

[cjatthefarm]

Thanks all! That's what I was starting to realize---when the hormones kicked in--things might get dicey!

I sure don't want 'bare backed' hens! Guess I will watch & wait for the 'change' in the temperature--of the boys!

But what I think everyone is saying is, for 25 hens, just wanting eggs; 3 roos would be enough.

 

[rcentner]

I have 4 roos with 14 hens (and some chicks that are are hens that will be added to the flock) Looks like a bad ratio, but I have a retarded bantam cochin roo that can't figure out how to mount the hens so technically, it's 3 roos to 14 hens.

one asks why keep more than 1 roo?......they are so darn pretty! I love all my roos (even the retarded one) and am not looking forward to getting rid of the cockerals that hatched out. I saw a 9 wk old cockeral trying to mount what I hope is a pullet today!

with enough room and enough hens you can keep more than 1 roo, this ratio is working out well for me and I have no barebacked hens. good luck!

 

[epitidios]

I had two adults, and two very young ones for 12 hens. The adults had loads of fights to the point that i had to cull the elder.

Now the young one fights with the adult a thing that i find really funny.

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

Sometimes 1 roo is too many if you just want eggs. We culled our hatchery roo about a month ago. When we decide we want chicks we will buy fertilized eggs, then evaluate any roos from the hatch. Hopefully I'll get a single roo I want to keep but in the meantime we don't miss him and our egg production went UP after we dispatched him.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Quote:
The fewer roos you have, the less stressed your hens will be. Stressed hens translates into decreased egg production and a higher susceptibility to diseases. The roosters will also increase your feed bill.

Just food for thought!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
The fewer roos you have, the less stressed your hens will be. Stressed hens translates into decreased egg production and a higher susceptibility to diseases. The roosters will also increase your feed bill.

Just food for thought!

I have to agree with Cowgirl71.

 

[cjatthefarm]

Well. I swore I wasn't 'attached' to any of these guys----but, I see that having less than 5 might be the best..........

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I know how you feel. I felt the same way but once I saw how my girls were being abused, I quickly changed my mind. I cried when I culled the first rooster.