How many roosters to hens?

[saracalderas]

Hello, we have a bunch of pullets we wil be putting into our run later this summer. We currently only have one Roo. We have a possibility of 15 new pullets plus the 5 older ones. Do we only need one Roo or should we get 2. Also could we keep them both in the same pen or have to make another?

 

[shmccarthy]

I heard a good ratio is 10-12 hens to a roosters have 26 hens and 2 roosters and occasionally the roos get at each other, but nothing bloody.

 

[saracalderas]

So you keep them together? Do you free range them or are they in a run?

 

[shmccarthy]

Both. I have a 10x20 run that they stay in during the night and during bad weather and they free range during the day. The only ones that are separated right now are my 8 week old bantams just because they're so tiny.