Cowgirl71- I got the chickens all at the same time around May, 16 2010.
Magicpigeon- I want to get another rooster, so it might work out perfect! I want some more chickens, so I might expand this spring and make room for 1 more rooster!
Six months old is often not old enough for acceptable fertility rates. I'd wait until he's at least eight months old before trying to hatch any eggs from him.
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I wouldn't get another rooster unless you plan to have at LEAST 12 hens. Otherwise, your hens will be "over-roostered" (missing a lot of their back feathers), and just a more stressful flock overall (which can lead to illness, poorer laying, etc.).
I like to do one rooster in a flock. The flock is so much calmer that way. If the flock is bigger than 20 hens and I want a good fertility rate for hatching, then I'll add another rooster. Although I think you have bantams, so I think one rooster could comfortably cover about 12 hens when he's reached full sexual maturity (about 10 months).
I just realized that you're "chicken boy" and I'm "cow girl," LOL!
Quote:
I wouldn't get another rooster unless you plan to have at LEAST 12 hens. Otherwise, your hens will be "over-roostered" (missing a lot of their back feathers), and just a more stressful flock overall (which can lead to illness, poorer laying, etc.).
I like to do one rooster in a flock. The flock is so much calmer that way. If the flock is bigger than 20 hens and I want a good fertility rate for hatching, then I'll add another rooster. Although I think you have bantams, so I think one rooster could comfortably cover about 12 hens when he's reached full sexual maturity (about 10 months).
I just realized that you're "chicken boy" and I'm "cow girl," LOL!
He needs some competition, even if the other male will never become dominant, to get him going
