How many roosters can I have to hens?

[chickenchick2714]

I’ve heard 1 to 10 is a standard ratio currently raising 11 chicks who are “pullets” from TSC but we know how that may turn out lol i am also getting 2 light Brahma coop ready pullets in June bringing the total to 13 so will I need more than one Roo? How many roosters have you been able to keep at once, what is your ratio? Also, assuming they are all actually pullets should I purchase a cockerel or at what age can I introduce a rooster to the flock?

 

[picklestheduck]

I’ve heard 1 to 10 is a standard ratio currently raising 11 chicks who are “pullets” from TSC but we know how that may turn out lol i am also getting 2 light Brahma coop ready pullets in June bringing the total to 13 so will I need more than one Roo? How many roosters have you been able to keep at once, what is your ratio? Also, assuming they are all actually pullets should I purchase a cockerel or at what age can I introduce a rooster to the flock?

Well what is your purpose for a rooster? With that many hens I would personally still only have one rooster. I had 16 hens with one rooster once and they did quite well. Even most of all the eggs were fertile.

 

[21hens-incharge]

No rooster is required unless you want to hatch chicks.

If this is your first round with chickens I would recommend all females. If you have small children I recommend all females.
A flogging rooster can seriously injure an adult. When they jump and spur those are at a child's face level....nothing good can come of that.

 

[aart]

I’ve heard 1 to 10 is a standard ratio

That's only for commercial breeding scenarios.
More than 1 male can cause a lot of problems.

If this is your first round with chickens I would recommend all females. If you have small children I recommend all females.

X2^^^

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If you’re not planning on hatching I would not get a rooster or at least wait on it if you’re not in a hurry to hatch next spring. Roosters seem to be better behaved in general when they have older hens to put them in their place when they are young cockerels. As to how many you will need just one will be fine for your planned flock size. More than one is just asking for trouble especially if you do not have ample amounts of space and prior experience.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I’ve heard 1 to 10 is a standard ratio

That ratio can vary widely, depending on the personality of your rooster(s) and how much experience you have in interpreting and managing their behavior. Some pairs or trios of roosters can get along in a flock of hens, some can't. The more hens, the happier the rooster. The more roosters, the UNhappier everyone - including humans.

currently raising 11 chicks who are “pullets” from TSC but we know how that may turn out lol i am also getting 2 light Brahma coop ready pullets in June bringing the total to 13 so will I need more than one Roo?

Not at all. I can't think of any good reason to have more than one rooster with up to 15-16 hens, and only a high predator load or for breeding purposes would you NEED more than one rooster in a flock of 20+.

How many roosters have you been able to keep at once, what is your ratio?

Currently, I have four - with 37 hens. It's too low a ratio for my flock, and one of them will have to go unfortunately. Goldie and Roofuss have made a formidable pair and work well together to manage the flock. Blackbeard, the youngest, seems to be finding his place and has been observed working WITH the other two while occasionally being chased away but not flogged. I'm still deciding about him. Colonel Sanders, however, has been beaten so many times he hides inside or underneath the coop (a camper on blocks). He doesn't mate very often, is afraid of his own shadow, and ranges out all alone with they're out of the run. Poor guy, but he's got a date with the chopping block.

Also, assuming they are all actually pullets should I purchase a cockerel

You only need a rooster to warn of predators when they free-range, or for breeding purposes. Hens will lay eggs whether there's a rooster or not.

or at what age can I introduce a rooster to the flock?

You can integrate him at any time after about 8 weeks of age. But if he's the ONLY chick to be integrated, I'd wait until he's a little older. Either way, follow good integration practices and don't just turn him loose.

 

[triciayoung]

I agree, stick with one rooster.

 

[chickenchick2714]

Well what is your purpose for a rooster? With that many hens I would personally still only have one rooster. I had 16 hens with one rooster once and they did quite well. Even most of all the eggs were fertile.

I am hoping to have more chicks in the future so one purpose is breeding on a small scale but also just “protection” for the flock

 

[chickenchick2714]

No rooster is required unless you want to hatch chicks.

If this is your first round with chickens I would recommend all females. If you have small children I recommend all females.
A flogging rooster can seriously injure an adult. When they jump and spur those are at a child's face level....nothing good can come of that.

Oh goodness! I have 2 small children, I’ve heard so many mixed things my friend has had many roosters and a lot of them have become aggressive and not worked for the flock and now has one that does great it sounds like it’s such a luck of the draw im on the fence now

 

[chickenchick2714]

That ratio can vary widely, depending on the personality of your rooster(s) and how much experience you have in interpreting and managing their behavior. Some pairs or trios of roosters can get along in a flock of hens, some can't. The more hens, the happier the rooster. The more roosters, the UNhappier everyone - including humans.


Not at all. I can't think of any good reason to have more than one rooster with up to 15-16 hens, and only a high predator load or for breeding purposes would you NEED more than one rooster in a flock of 20+.


Currently, I have four - with 37 hens. It's too low a ratio for my flock, and one of them will have to go unfortunately. Goldie and Roofuss have made a formidable pair and work well together to manage the flock. Blackbeard, the youngest, seems to be finding his place and has been observed working WITH the other two while occasionally being chased away but not flogged. I'm still deciding about him. Colonel Sanders, however, has been beaten so many times he hides inside or underneath the coop (a camper on blocks). He doesn't mate very often, is afraid of his own shadow, and ranges out all alone with they're out of the run. Poor guy, but he's got a date with the chopping block.


You only need a rooster to warn of predators when they free-range, or for breeding purposes. Hens will lay eggs whether there's a rooster or not.


You can integrate him at any time after about 8 weeks of age. But if he's the ONLY chick to be integrated, I'd wait until he's a little older. Either way, follow good integration practices and don't just turn him loose.

It’s sounding like one will be good for us if we decide to have one! We definitely want to breed on a small scale in the future and our hens will be free range.. May be a dumb question but if one of the pullets turns out to be a rooster can I do business as usual and put them all in the coop at once as they were raised together does this only apply for new males?