Rooster-hen ratio
- Thread starter Goldie01
- Start date
Everyone’s ratio is different.
Yours is just fine.
He is a young rooster and may get a little rough with them until he mellows out a little.
Yours is just fine.
He is a young rooster and may get a little rough with them until he mellows out a little.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you so much he is being a little rough and they don’t like it thanks again
Some people separate the young rooster for some time just until he calms down. Depending on your coop, you may be able to section off an area for him or if you have another coop you could use, it may be something to think about.
Then the coop could also be used for new members in the future or a sick chicken.
- Thread starter
- #5
I could separate them but they usually get to forage all day, but I might have to separate him will that help after he is turned loose again?
If asked, I recommend a hen only flock for the first time. In my opinion, roosters take some experience. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people.
I don't think you are comfortable with him, if so let him go, remove him from you flock. You will be more comfortable, and more than likely so will your girls.
Mrs K
I don't think you are comfortable with him, if so let him go, remove him from you flock. You will be more comfortable, and more than likely so will your girls.
Mrs K
There are no magic numbers.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc ....short term and/or long term.
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.
We have 6 hens and 1 rooster just wondering if that is enough hens for him
My basic laying/breeding flock is one rooster and 6 to 8 hens. Some years 6, some years 7 or 8, depending in what happens. I know you read a lot about it on this forum but to me the ratio is not what is important. One very thing important is that each chicken has its own individual personality. You can never tell what behaviors you will see with living animals because of that. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
How much room they have can be a factor, though I don't think a lot in this case once they mature. When immature it is more important. Any behavior problems you have are magnified if they are squeezed tightly together.
One very important thing is that right now you do not have a rooster, you have an immature cockerel. The pullets should be old enough to behave like mature hens. Until that cockerel matures enough to behave in a way to impress the ladies, they probably won't think he would make a good father for their children. So they probably don't want to have a lot to do with him. His hormones can drive him wild and he has little control. He wants to mate them, a lot. That's not really about fertilizing eggs but the mating act at this age is about dominance. The one on the bottom is accepting the dominance of the one on top, either willingly or by force. I once had a five month old cockerel that could suitably impress the ladies but that was rare. I had one that took eleven months to reach that stage. Most of mine average around seven months. I think the girls have a lot to say about that too, it's not just the male. The girls have their own personalities, some are more willing to accept a male as dominant than others.
I don't know what you are seeing in their behaviors. Watching them go through adolescence can be very hard to watch or it may be no big deal. At some point things should settle down as they all mature but watching them go through adolescence may not be for the faint of heart. It's a lot like humans. Most do grow up but some remain immature brats their entire life.
It's not a matter of ratio. Some people with one rooster and one or two hens don't have issues. Some people with one rooster and over 20 hens do. But one big part is whether you are talking about immature cockerels and pullets or mature roosters and hens.
My basic laying/breeding flock is one rooster and 6 to 8 hens. Some years 6, some years 7 or 8, depending in what happens. I know you read a lot about it on this forum but to me the ratio is not what is important. One very thing important is that each chicken has its own individual personality. You can never tell what behaviors you will see with living animals because of that. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
How much room they have can be a factor, though I don't think a lot in this case once they mature. When immature it is more important. Any behavior problems you have are magnified if they are squeezed tightly together.
One very important thing is that right now you do not have a rooster, you have an immature cockerel. The pullets should be old enough to behave like mature hens. Until that cockerel matures enough to behave in a way to impress the ladies, they probably won't think he would make a good father for their children. So they probably don't want to have a lot to do with him. His hormones can drive him wild and he has little control. He wants to mate them, a lot. That's not really about fertilizing eggs but the mating act at this age is about dominance. The one on the bottom is accepting the dominance of the one on top, either willingly or by force. I once had a five month old cockerel that could suitably impress the ladies but that was rare. I had one that took eleven months to reach that stage. Most of mine average around seven months. I think the girls have a lot to say about that too, it's not just the male. The girls have their own personalities, some are more willing to accept a male as dominant than others.
I don't know what you are seeing in their behaviors. Watching them go through adolescence can be very hard to watch or it may be no big deal. At some point things should settle down as they all mature but watching them go through adolescence may not be for the faint of heart. It's a lot like humans. Most do grow up but some remain immature brats their entire life.
It's not a matter of ratio. Some people with one rooster and one or two hens don't have issues. Some people with one rooster and over 20 hens do. But one big part is whether you are talking about immature cockerels and pullets or mature roosters and hens.
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