Is 1 rooster enough for 15 hens?

[Viking84]

i placed an order for 15 females and 1 rooster. One crowing rooster will be more than enough noise in my neighborhood. Really don't want a second one crowing as well. I know the basic number is one Roo to ten hens. But will one Roo be able to fertilize as many as 15 ladies?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What breed? Bantam or large fowl?
Regardless of those answers, he may be able to get to all of them in a timely manner unless he settles on favorites.
Light breeds are able to work more hens than heavy breeds.

 

[Labelles Velders]

Depending on the breed and/or rooster, yes. A silkie probably not, but an active, young LF rooster would be able to for sure.

 

[Viking84]

What breed? Bantam or large fowl?
Regardless of those answers, he may be able to get to all of them in a timely manner unless he settles on favorites.
Light breeds are able to work more hens than heavy breeds.

The rooster is an Ancona, with a variety of hens, RI Red, Delaware, Austrolorp, Blue Andalusian,and leghorns. Can he get it done?

 

[Labelles Velders]

An Ancona should, being a light, Mediterranean breed, assuming he is young and active/healthy.

 

[Viking84]

Ok thanks. Since the breed originated in Italy, I guess we will call him "ROCKY" aka The Itallian Stallion

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree, an Ancona should get it done. The only downside of having a single rooster is if he gives himself up to a predator to save the hens, then you have no rooster.
But the hens' eggs will still be fertile for about 3 weeks.

 

[Pekin747]

1 rooster to 10 hens is just an average I've roosters that where with 16 17 18 hens and every egg set was fertile and I've had roosters with 5 hens and only got half so it really depends on ur roosters healthy and age and time of year aswell

 

[Shadrach]

i placed an order for 15 females and 1 rooster. One crowing rooster will be more than enough noise in my neighborhood. Really don't want a second one crowing as well. I know the basic number is one Roo to ten hens. But will one Roo be able to fertilize as many as 15 ladies?

Yes, he probably will manage to mate with most of the hens. What he won't be able to do is take care of that number if you free range.
It doesn't matter how many hens you provide him with he will have favorites and they will be the ones he mates with by preference and the ones he will try to look after.
I'm sure people will tell you that the number of hens doesn't matter and there is no magic number but I'm going tell you they are wrong. There is a magic number and that number is three.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I agree with Shad on this.. I have a large, diverse, free ranging flock and while some roosters will have up 5 or 6 hens most have 3. And the ones with more usually only mate with their favored 3.