Hey Guys and Gals, I know the usual ratios of hens to roos are suggested to be 1 to 10 or more....I currently have twelve birds housed together in an 8x8 coop, and a huge electric-fenced "run" (more of a huge pasture). This said, I have eight hens and two roosters. The head rooster, Roopert is an Ameraucana (in my avatar). He's never tried to mate the sub-adult Jersey Giants (and they've not yet started laying - they're about 7 months or so now - but days are getting shorter/cooler). The other roo, Socks, is about four-five months at this point by now, and is not aggressive whatsoever to any bird. Nor has he tried to mate anyone. All in all, everyone for the most part gets along famously now aside from a few pecking order spats but no blood or feathers fly. Since my young rooster, Socks, was raised with Roopert and the others, will it be likely Roopert and he can coexist happily together? I am planning to add another 3-4 hens to the flock to bring my total count up to 16 birds (about the maximum I'd say capacity for my size coop...probably could do more though since they have such a huge run area). What ya'll think?
I have four roosters for my own small flock. No where near the correct ratio, but it's what I have, LOL! Two of them are two years old, one was hatched out early this spring, and the other in late summer. The younger two have been raised around the other two roosters their whole lives. All of them free-range together with the hens and rarely have a problem. Granted, they do fight on occasion just to keep the pecking order in line, but there's never been any blood shed. As long as they have space to get away from each other when need be, they get along quite well!
Thanks John, appreciate you sharing your experience. I guess I can look at my setup now and think they're OK; I just didn't want to be surprised one day and have to suddenly get rid of one of my beautiful roosters. As long as they're happy, I'm happy. That's my main goal. :-D
It can work...but....it can change fast. I like to advise to have a separate enclosure ready for the younger cockerel in case things do not remain peaceful. Only time will tell.
