How many Roos per hen should I have?

[lildinkem]

I think many folks who use one Roo to two girls, do this to be sure their best boy are on their best girls. I do that. I have 4 Buff Orps pullets who are my best, and I alternate the boys to know for sure
"Who's your daddy". lolol

 

[catdaddyfro]

I run a ratio of 12 hens to 1 roo in my breeding pen during hatching season and the rest of the year I just sorta turn them all in the run together so there's not really any particular ratio all at all.

Anyway from what I've read usaully a ratio of 10-12 to 1 with large fowl (Rocks, BA, BO,RIR, ect....) and 12-15 to1 maybe even more for light fowl and game type birds(bantams, Leghorns,exotics, etc...) as they are quite a bit more energetic in their rituals(activities)

It really boils down to how energetic the roo is, some are just more active than others and have a higher drive than others. They all have a very high lebido compared to most any other type animal in nature. I'm pretty sure that's the reason they got dubbed with the name "cock" as they duely earn their reputation. Which is probly due to their hormonal balance, if you've ever butchered a roo or seen the genitals of a mature rooster then you'd know exactly as to why they act as they do. I would venture to say their testicular size to body wieght ratio is probably the most odd/ over-glandular in any of the living creatures on this green earth.

catdaddy

 

[lildinkem]

I noticed IF left to their own choice, Roo's have favorites. Some girls I guess are more high maintenance then others. Just a good meal and a nice day mite not get those other girls into the mood. And some of my older boys say, heck with her, I'll go get the easy girls. lolol

 

[GraceAK]

I have one roos to 2 girls and theyre fine; no bare backs. He keeps getting my White Rock's back all dirty though! He's an unusually gentle roo though.

 

[NellaBean]

I have 2 roos currently (and 1-2 cockerels that are about 14 weeks old) and 10 hens of laying age (8-9 months old) and 12-13 pullets that are about 14-18 weeks old. I very recently removed a rooster and 4 hens. Having 3 roosters and 14 hens was way too many. My girls are much happier with the other rooster gone.....I tried having only 1 rooster on 9 girls and he just couldn't handle them all. I will not be keeping the younger cockerels, so will have 2 roosters on somewhere between 15-20 hens eventually.

I do have some girls who don't get much "action" and a couple others that have some broken feathers on their backs. I think that is just the way it works with the "favorites".

 

[hankus]

My OEGB, trio maybe quad no more. Neighbor keeps games in pairs or trios. Main flock is 1:4 right now, but one roo does most of the work.