Ideal Rooster/hen ratio?

[mrstiffanymayer]

How many hens will I need to keep my Rooster happy (not too many to protect) and the hens with feathers (not too little so that they are mated way too often?)

Right now I have 1 cockerel, 8 pullets.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I think its at least 1 to 4 or more. I think 10 is tops isnt it? If you're looking for good hatching rates anyway.

I have one roo to my 7 pullets.

Your ratio sounds good. If theres not enough hens they'll get over used and beat up. If theres not enough roosters your hatch rates can suffer.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

When i was checking on hatching eggs to buy most would say the ration was 1 to 6. So what you have really sounds about right. I have 1 rooster for 20 hens and i crack fertile eggs from him each morning. 3 out of the 4 eggs had the bulls eye starting so the 1 to 6 ratio should be real good.

 

[hcammack]

I have heard 1 to 8 it all depends on the rooster the main goals are to maintain fertility and to not wear your hens out to much I am really not sure as I am not a breeder and have never owned a rooster exept when they were small.