How many roosters should I keep?

[Bama4545]

The last time I had chickens the chicken Math got me and I ended up with too many. Part of the reason I got rid of them. This time my plan was to only keep 10-12. So I ending up ordering 23. I have added 2 more to the order and now I am at 25. If all make it I will have to rehome and that is not an issue. The culling will be an issue cause I will not want to choose. I ordered 1 rooster. I don't know why. I probably will end up with some from my hens cause sexing isn't 100%. I want to raise some along the way. I have enough room for 16 easy. So should I keep one rooster with 15 hens or 2 roosters with 14 hens?

 

[LizzzyJo]

It depends on how much you care about fertilized eggs. 1:15 with a young cockerel will not be 100% fertile. Maybe with an older roo, but possibly not.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I personally keep as many roos as I can while still having them be nice and treat the hens fairly. It depends on the individual attitudes, the space you have, how you want the flock set up, ect.

Some people will say you need ATLEAST 9 hens for every rooster. Most of my roos have trios and their girls are very happy. It all depends on individuals

 

[Folly's place]

It's all so individual, as mentioned above. you may get one or two nice cockerels, who work out well in your flock. Then again, nobody may be worth keeping! See how it goes, and don't feel guilty about removing individuals who just don't fit, for whatever the reasons.
Mary

 

[Bama4545]

Thanks!

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

I have 2 standard rhode island red roosters that ger alongine with each other. The least amount of hens I have had with them is 9. It was a little too few and my girls started to look rough. I also had a rir/australorp rooster that formed his own harem of 4 girls. Right now I have the 2 boys plus 2 bantam cockerel and 25 hens/pullets in the yard. And 6 more pullets too young to go in with the big birds. Everyone seems to be good. I don't breed my chickens generally and only have roosters because I cant bring myself to cull or rehome to strangers. The 2 roos rir were sexed wrong. The mix was the one egg we hatched that lived. And the 2bantams were straight run.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree. Ratios are not important, you never know what will happen. Two or three may work out, one may be too many for you. Each one can be an individual and we all have different situations.

My general suggestion is to keep as few as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters, just that the more you have the more likely you are to have problems. Try something, observe and be flexible, trust your judgment, and solve for the peace of the flock.

 

[Bama4545]

I agree. Ratios are not important, you never know what will happen. Two or three may work out, one may be too many for you. Each one can be an individual and we all have different situations.

My general suggestion is to keep as few as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters, just that the more you have the more likely you are to have problems. Try something, observe and be flexible, trust your judgment, and solve for the peace of the flock.

I guess I'll see what I end up with. If the sexing is 100% accurate my question is kind of pointless because I will not be adding a rooster unless something happens to the one I ordered.