Is it possible to have too many hens for 1 Roo??

[crowmama]

I'm seeing all over the forums, that 1:10 or 12 is a good ratio. We have almost double that, plus 5 chicks that will integrate in the coming weeks. (1:22 ratio once they integrate).
What risk does this pose to Roo to have too many hens?? They are all pastured on approx 5 acres, with a small flock of ducks, (but tend to stay within a 2.5 acre area. Sometimes we see them out front or wag down by the creek, but not too often)... And they have a barn they can freely come and go as well.
We inherited this flock, but know they had 2 other Roo's at one point, and it's speculated the current Roo killed the others. He's super mellow, but guess anything is possible?
He seems happy enough lol

 

[crowmama]

*brace of ducks

 

[Ravynscroft]

I don't think there really is such a thing as too many hens for a roo, lol... unless you are breeding specifically or need every egg fertilized... actually, form the sound of it the other roo (s?) were probably taken or killed by predators and not the roo... many times roos can live together peacefully especially when they have plenty of room like that...

 

[crowmama]

Yea, I'm not sure how it all happened, but apparently they just found the others intact (no obvious injury), and looking like they keeled over. (different times, not the same day). Hopefully not stress from too many females, as our current Roo has so many lol!!!

We do have quite a few predators here this time of year, the bigger animals come down out of the hills to find water. (occasional cougar, raccoon, and even bear), and of course hawks... but haven't lost any of our flock to any predators yet! They have found places to hide out when necessary. I have seen all the chickens, and ducks congregate in the barn before ~ sure enough ~ you'll hear a hawk whistle or circle overhead right in that same period of time. Smart little buggers

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds like you have a good flock! Sometimes things happen, I wouldn't worry too much unless you keep getting unexplained deaths... maybe there's a couple baby roos in the chicks and they'll grow up to be his sidekicks...

 

[Bonz]

Usually one rooster for every 10 to 12 hens, I have 24 hens and two roosters and I free range, but only when I am around to keep an eye on them. But my roosters do an excellent job looking after the hens, who usually have there butt's to the sky. My older rooster help me fend of a small hawk the other day, he gave the hens time to get to cover. Hate to think what would have happen to him if I was not there, brave or not he was no match for small red tail hawk.

 

[drumstick diva]

If fertile eggs are important to you ,to sell or hatch,, you could have another rooster and divide the hens between them.

 

[donrae]

the 1 to 10 is for optimal fertility and least amount of wear on the hens. It's by no means an absolute. There are no risks to your rooster by having more hens. In fact, he'll be one happy, happy guy!

Fertility can depend on age. I've had a young rooster easily keep two dozen hens fertile. By age 4, his fertility had dropped some and (coincidentally?) he was de-throned by a younger cockerel.

 

[bobbi-j]

Yea, I'm not sure how it all happened, but apparently they just found the others intact (no obvious injury), and looking like they keeled over. (different times, not the same day). Hopefully not stress from too many females, as our current Roo has so many lol!!!

We do have quite a few predators here this time of year, the bigger animals come down out of the hills to find water. (occasional cougar, raccoon, and even bear), and of course hawks... but haven't lost any of our flock to any predators yet! They have found places to hide out when necessary. I have seen all the chickens, and ducks congregate in the barn before ~ sure enough ~ you'll hear a hawk whistle or circle overhead right in that same period of time. Smart little buggers

If they were just dead with no apparent injury, it wasn't the rooster that killed them. There would definitely be injuries to both the dead roosters and the survivor. They would not die from the stress of too many hens.