Rooster to chook ratio

[Angel07]

I currently have 4 ISA Brown hens and a Australorp x New Hampshire? hen. I would like to get 2 Australorp hens and a rooster. I would also like 2 Barred Rock hens and a rooster. That would bring the total to 9 hens and 2 rooster. Is that a good amount or should I only get 1 rooster or get some more hens?

 

[Jenessa_096]

If the roosters get along together, I think that sounds about right to me!

 

[InterestingChickens]

The rule of thumb is 10 hens to every rooster. The roosters may fight each other for more hens and the hens themselves will be over mated.

 

[Jenessa_096]

The rule of thumb is 10 hens to every rooster. The roosters may fight each other for more hens and the hens themselves will be over mated.

I’ve had a rooster with 3 hens and everything was just fine . I think it matters on the rooster.

 

[Mrs. K]

The least number of roosters is the best amount of roosters. Multiple roosters increase the chance of something going wrong.

 

[Angel07]

The least number of roosters is the best amount of roosters. Multiple roosters increase the chance of something going wrong.

I understand that but I would like both roosters. I want purebred austalorps and barred rock. If I only get one which one would you suggest?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I understand that but I would like both roosters. I want purebred austalorps and barred rock.

If you are willing and able to house them separately (if the need arises) no reason you can't have both.

If realistically you don't have the space or budget to do 2 separate set ups, then are you at least willing to eat or rehome one or both males if needed? If so, then you have leeway to try it out. If not, you may be facing a difficult decision down the line.

 

[Angel07]

If you are willing and able to house them separately (if the need arises) no reason you can't have both.

If realistically you don't have the space or budget to do 2 separate set ups, then are you at least willing to eat or rehome one or both males if needed? If so, then you have leeway to try it out. If not, you may be facing a difficult decision down the line.

We have plenty of space (used to have 300 chooks in same space). I could easily get more chooks too. My main problem is mum doesn’t want too many chooks but if I show her I can look after this next lot I’ll be able to get some more hopefully or even breed them. I know I can look after them, I am really good at looking after my animals.

 

[aart]

I understand that but I would like both roosters. I want purebred austalorps and barred rock.

If you want pure breeds, you'll have to keep them separated by breed.

 

[Mrs. K]

What I would suggest is not keeping roosters for forever. I would pick one of the breeds and get the best rooster I could get. Hatch out those eggs for a year or so, culling pretty harshly so to only keep top notch birds. When I got 3-4 quality hens, then I would let that rooster go, and get the other breed of rooster, to get that line going.

I would anticipate culling each rooster at two years. So the first two years - you work on Australaupes. Next two years, work on the barred rocks.

When people do raise pure bred breeds, they do a lot of hatching, and a lot of culling.

Another point - I have had chickens for years, many the time, I have thought, this is the breed I will love... only not to like them quite so much when I get them. Such is life. So I think the trying one rooster is a good idea:

• you don't have the problems of roosters fighting
• you don't have the problems with roosters running hens ragged
• if you discover, this bird is not working out, you have already decided to let him go.

A lot of people want forever pets, hatching chicks really does not work with that.

Mrs K