Roo hen ratio

[mi2bugz]

We thought we had 4 hens but one ended up being a roo. Our start up run is only able to hold 6 chickens at this time (64 sq ft). Is a ratio of 1 roo to 5 hens too few hens? Should I add in one more hen but that would lower the run sq ft per chicken? They are currently 8 weeks old and a bigger run will come next spring. I am just running out of time to build the run . Free ranging isn't working .

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might read my post in this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/836783/-#post_12302092

You’ve confused me. Don’t get too proud of yourself, it’s not that hard to do. Better people than you have managed with little effort.

Seriously, whether you have a 1 to 3 (thought 4 were female but 1 was a male) or a 1 to 5, you should be OK without adding any more. You will see some stuff going on during adolescence but that stuff happens in every flock when the hens hatch and raise chicks.

 

[mi2bugz]

Wow...I really did mess up that posts lol. We have 4...wanted more so the girls won't get "tired" lol. So were going to get 1-2 more.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was just teasing. But do read that other thread.

 

[mi2bugz]

Great post. So we will probably get 2 more hens and go with 6 birds total for a 5:1 ratio. Otherwise will be at 9 sq ft per bird,

 

[aart]

How big your coop is, not just the run, is important too in Michigan....bad weather can keep them inside for days at a time.

 

[mi2bugz]

Our current coop can hold 16 chickens at the 4 sq ft per chicken. Our run will be 16x8 at a later date but for now we can only start with an 8x8 run,

We are in Texas so they probably will still spend most of their day outside. Sorry I didn't include the coop dimensions in my earlier post but thank you for pointing that out invade I didn't know .

 

[aart]

How big your coop is, not just the run, is important too in Michigan....bad weather can keep them inside for days at a time.

I don't know where I got the Michigan from! ....must have my threads confused 8-\