Keeping a rooster with 5 hens

[Dreysander]

Is it advisable to keep a rooster if you only have 5 hens? We have 6 birds and a couple that I suspect of being male, but the breeder has said that if we get males we are free to bring them back and exchange them for females. DH and I kind of want a rooster for flock protection and breeding purposes. We live out in the country so that's not an issue.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Is it advisable to keep a rooster if you only have 5 hens? We have 6 birds and a couple that I suspect of being male, but the breeder has said that if we get males we are free to bring them back and exchange them for females. DH and I kind of want a rooster for flock protection and breeding purposes. We live out in the country so that's not an issue.

All you can do is try it and see. Some roosters are more prone to abuse/overbreeding of the hens than others. There really is no one magic number or ratio where you will or won't see problems. If you do start seeing damage or signs of excess wear and tear you can always employ saddles, etc. and it already sounds like you plan to free range all or part of the time so that gives them an added opportunity to avoid his advances when they want.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

I have one with four and so far *knock on wood* it's been fine. A lot of breeders keep a rooster with a small number of hens, so I figured it was worth a try.