Multiple Roosters in a Flock

[NatJ]

I currently only have 5 mature hens with my rooster and this number is fine for him. I doubt he could manage many more. When I see the posts saying minimum 10 hens per rooster... well not my rooster haha.

The idea of 10 hens per rooster is based on big commercial flocks, where they want all the eggs fertile (so they can hatch them and sell chicks) but they want to feed as few roosters as possible (to save money.)

In a backyard flock, the individual rooster makes a big difference. As you've seen, your rooster does well with 5, while I've read of other people who have 20 hens with a single rooster and still find that all eggs are fertile and some hens get bare backs from too-frequent mating.

 

[Flockincrazy]

I have 8roosters and 48hens in my main coop with no issues but they are all bantam roosters and I had a rooster coop with 25roosters no fighting after a while so it's really up to you separate them or keep them together if you do separate them put the 2 siblings together

 

[Mrs. K]

You can't wish them to get along. And there really no rules to roosters, as in: if you do this, then you will get perfect roosters. Roosters are a crap shoot, always solve for peace in your flock, and don't wait too long to do it. Being raised together in my experience has little or no influence on behavior with chickens.

Problems to be aware of:

• Your hens can be under ruthless attacks, and tension.
• How the roosters are getting along today, is not and indicator about tomorrow's behavior.
• They may fight each other - they may fight once and be done, multiple times, or until death. Always have a plan B set up and ready to go.
• They may become human aggressive. This forum is full of posts where the darling becomes the nightmare.

They might get along just fine, but the more roosters you have, the greater the chance of it not working. If it doesn't work, can you cull the bird, can you re-home him? Do make a plan, a doable plan.

Personally, I would not have 3 roosters unless, I had over 30 head of chickens, not because I believe the whole 10 hen: 1 rooster, but because people that have more than 30 head of chickens, generally have much bigger coops and much bigger runs. Roosters take more space than hens.

Mrs K