Rooster count

[Knobby]

7 roosters, thus far, with 41 hens

 

[Altairsky]

7 hens, 1 roo.
I also have the habit to keep 1 emergency cockerel from my last batch that I keep until he causes problems or I have a younger cockerel from a new batch. This is an emergency measure in case their dad dies for whatever reason so I have a replacement ready.

 

[chooki]

6 hens with 4 roosters, except hens are at suburban home & roos are on the farm.

I do plan to breed them down the track, but I need to work on the fencing so the hens don't get hurt when I move them on to the farm.

 

[Perris]

Currently there are 6 roos and 8 cockerels here in a single flock with 17 hens and 3 pullets.

The flock is not confined, so arguments between individuals are brief and usually without injury; any bird can simply run away if threatened, and most males (and females) do not reckon a real fight is worth the risk most of the time. So most of the time everyone gets along, and it is calm (barring alarm calls, when they can create quite the cacophony, but that seems to work to deter all comers).

Fecundity is excellent; broodies raise chicks within the flock; and the mortality rate is so low I am looking to cull about 10 flock members this autumn. Those who have already a had a good and full life will make way for their own descendants, and some new blood, brought up by them.

Most of the chickens here share 4 Nestera coops at night. However, currently, 4 cockerels, the 3 pullets, and 2 of the hens are roosting out in one or other of 2 evergreen trees, where they have been managing to stay mostly dry, as well as safe, these past 6 weeks or so. It remains to be seen if they will prefer the coops when they have fewer occupants.