How many Roosters is too much?

[JSC]

Hi,been awhile since I have posted,everything has really gone pretty good. I have 4 roosters now (got them all 4 from the last batch of chicks I bought this Spring) Are they gonna all get along? It seems that the older they get,the meaner they are getting with the fussing and basically being mean to some of the older hens. One is a Buff Orpington Rooster,two are Barred Plymouth Rocks I believe what is a Black Sexlink (correct me if I am wrong on the black one)

 

[Comet Mum]

From what I've read, most people seem to aim for 1 roo per 8-10 hens. Of course the ratio is much smaller in breeding pens. So, if you want to keep 4 roosters, you need about 40 hens! (Reasons to expand, perhaps

)

 

[MrChicken207]

it all depends on how many hens you plan on keeping and how many pens you have for the birds. if you have one one. I wouldn't keep a rooster for any less than 8 hens, 10 or 12 being better. so, for an example, if you have 36 hens, you can conceivable keep all 4 roosters, but 3 would work better. if you just want to have one as a security guard for the hens, you can keep just the one, even if you have 36 hens, but I wouldn't expect too much in the way of fertile eggs.

 

[ekemily]

I have one roo for 20 hens. It has worked nicely for me. Eventhough he does have favorites, my hens aren't all beaten up.

 

[JSC]

The roosters seem like they are the meanest to the oldest (3 year old) Buff hens. The Buff hens fight back and it seems like the older the roosters get,the more aggressive they are to the Buff's. Right now we have about 28 hens.

Here are some pics of the 3 year old hens (ain't the Buff Purty!) We have 2 Brown Leghorns that have no problems with the Roosters.

By the way,can anyone identify the breed of the above black Rooster (first pic) ?????

 

[Olive Hill]

Depends on the rooster(s) in question and your setup. From the sounds of things you have 4 too many.

Your black cockerel is likely a hatchery run black Australorp. Black sex-link cockerels are not actually black, the color just refers to the color of the chicks at hatching -- at which point both sexes are black but the males have a white dot on their head.

 

[MrChicken207]

The breed above the black rooster looks like the hen right behind the buff in the second pic you posted. If I had to guess I'd say welsummer. But, as I havn't had any, nor seen any in person, I'm not 100% on that.

 

[JSC]

That one is a Brown Leghorn.

 

[MrChicken207]

So I was right. I'm not 100% sure. LOL

 

[crj]

The answer to your question is........... More then 1 rooster is to many! Unless, you have 1 rooster with a bunch of hens in a pen then that can be ok. My thought is roosters cause to many stressing problems to the hens.

It's like having more then one stallion and a bunch mares all around. Just asking for trouble. Way to much testosterone!