I need options; roosters to hen ratio.

[Earthmamafl]

Ok so I know I’ve heard people say you can only have so many roosters to hens. What if you have bantams roosters in a mixed flock of sizes? What have you noticed work? And what do you guys think...

First I guess I should tell you I have 9 females, five are about 3 years old because a family couldn’t take care of them. And 4 adults are a little over a year, we already had from chicks. After a few months of the two older groups getting along, chick season happened at tractor supply...

And..

So about 3 months ago my mom and I got carried away with buying chicks. The first two batches we got mixed bantams from the store, that put the chick count at 6 bantams than we got 7 regular sized. I can list down the breeds latter.

At a month we started to put all of them together, the chicks and the adults. And I know what some people are thinking... that’s not a good idea but the adult females took to them. We monitored them at first at about two and a half months we noticed some traits from two where male. The adults even treated them differently a week or so latter we noticed two more possible males. At 3 months and a week two where full crowing and one was starting anther we’re still not sure. So the 3 for sure and 1 possible males I know of are all bantams. so far they all get along and it almost seems like the boys talk to each other while there rounding the girls. they actually move them in packs one will be at the head one in back and two in the sides and you hear communication because they repeat each other’s squawks until all four know each others location.

There was even a moment where I was holding one of the confirmed males in my hand. Brought him into the house to wash his head (white crested polish) I started heading to the back, as I was rounding the corner and saw the other males (Sebright) let out this crazy dinosaur squawk scream the polish I was holding made exactly that same sound. So I let the polish down and he ran clear across the yard to the Sebright. They didn’t bump chests they just weirdly waited together till the other male Sebright and silkie joined. No like they stood in a cereal faced each other and went to four different groups. 5 minutes all 4 gathered all the girls adult and young chicks and they all walked into there outside inclosure.

At this point they seem like they all work together well. I’m just curious from other people’s opinions is it possible to keep all of them?

 

[EggWalrus]

Sometimes it can work without too much fighting. You say they are circling up? I guess thats ok if you don't mind all the Rooster Wear on the poor hens. When you have 4 or 5 roosters taking turns "circling" hens, the hens can get to where they never want to be on the ground. I had about 10 roosters that would take turns "circling" hens till they each had done her several times. Even had to pry them off her after 10 mins because she was so wore out all she could do was lay on her side looking like she was dead. And once they start to getting spurs, they can tear her up pretty bad. Even Bantys.
Good luck.

 

[Roo5]

Bantams are different then large fowl roosters imo.Ive been able to keep bantams with single hens or in a trio with little to no issue,I would downsize to maybe two or three still even if they get along.

 

[aart]

Ok so I know I’ve heard people say you can only have so many roosters to hens.

Yep, but.....

The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

At 3 months they have not really hit the hormone rush that will come soon.
See what happens, but have other enclosures/crates ready in case it all goes sideways,
cause when it's goes bad it can happen fast.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would do as AArt says - have a plan B set up for when it goes south. Really having a plan on what you are going to do if (when) they don't get along or wear out the girls and not using it because they do just fine in the flock, is way better that hoping everything will be fine and then having to scramble up something cause something is dying.

Truthfully, I would reduce the roosters too. If I have the count right, you think you will have 15-16 hens, IMO - 1-2 roosters is enough. I would favor 1 over 2.

Mrs K

 

[annaBsChick]

Why not start a separate bachelor flock of roosters? http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-keeping-bachelor-flocks

 

[Alaskan]

Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.

X 2!

The temperaments of the animals involved is huge.

Also, the size of the males to the females, huge males on small females is more likely to cause feather damage on the girls.

Also, some females have softer feathers that damage more easily.

If there is enough room, and the personalities are right.... then often multiple males and females can be housed together and they split up into their own breeding sets.

 

[Earthmamafl]

Sometimes it can work without too much fighting. You say they are circling up? I guess thats ok if you don't mind all the Rooster Wear on the poor hens. When you have 4 or 5 roosters taking turns "circling" hens, the hens can get to where they never want to be on the ground. I had about 10 roosters that would take turns "circling" hens till they each had done her several times. Even had to pry them off her after 10 mins because she was so wore out all she could do was lay on her side looking like she was dead. And once they start to getting spurs, they can tear her up pretty bad. Even Bantys.
Good luck.

Omg that sounds horrible, no there not cycling through the females. Not as in they all jump one at a time on them. It mostly just seems like the males are just communicating between each other. There are only two that do like a feather dance around the females only one really try’s to do the hole mating thing the rest just walk around there packs of girls like a formation like there protecting them but there not jumping on them yet. 3 of them aren’t showing any form of aggression. One of the big adult hens actually keeps the to males in line. I’ve seen her go after him when he was doing the feather dance. From what I’ve noticed the roosters mostly just keep look outs because I live in Florida and there are a lot of predators.

 

[Earthmamafl]

But of corse I wouldn’t want there to be problems with two many roosters. I’m more or less curious if the roosters are bantams and the majority of hands are average size and if you are bantams is that OK rooster to hen ratio

 

[Earthmamafl]

I would do as AArt says - have a plan B set up for when it goes south. Really having a plan on what you are going to do if (when) they don't get along or wear out the girls and not using it because they do just fine in the flock, is way better that hoping everything will be fine and then having to scramble up something cause something is dying.

Truthfully, I would reduce the roosters too. If I have the count right, you think you will have 15-16 hens, IMO - 1-2 roosters is enough. I would favor 1 over 2.

Mrs K

I have 9 full grown average sized female, 16 I got this season 7 of those are female that will be average size, that leaves 9 that are bantams 3 for sure are male bantams and 2 also maybe bantams.