Rooster to Hen Ratio when Chicks Raised Together

[snhchick]

My Silkie Chick Crowed Today! Scared me to death. Thought something was eating my chicks. I've been thinking that this Silkie was a rooster for a while, but he proved it today. I've been reading through the threads on ratios of hens to rooster, but didn't see anything that discussed whether it makes a difference if the chicks were raised together. I have three 3-month old "chicks", one definite rooster and hopefully two hens. I have seen comments that indicate a 10-1 ratio is recommended, but I'm wondering if I can keep the rooster with the two hens. These are my 8-year old son's chickens, so I know he will be upset if we have to re-home the roo. Also, he may have been a "litter mate" (sorry, I'm a dog person) of one of the hens. If I'm not planning to breed them, is this OK? Thanks for your help!

 

[sourland]

In my experience silky roosters are not particularly hard on hens. You may be fine with just two hens. As far as the breeding, inbreeding (unless starting with a heavily inbred family) does not cause the problems in birds that it does with dogs.

 

[Free Feather]

I think you will be fine, especially if there are no other roosters.

 

[BeachMomma]

I have 3 Dominiques ( 2 hens & 1 roo) that are just over 5 months old that were hatchlings together. Other than the normal rooster behavior of letting the girls know who is boss, as well as him being taught I'm the top boss, we haven't had any major problems. So far he's been easy on the girls but we do have plans to make an adjacent small coop near the extended run for him. Kinda like a rooster time out coop lol.

I have read and been told that if we planned to let eggs hatch from them, after 4 or 5 generations worth to bring in new chickens to the flock.

 

[Pennychickens1]

I had 3 hens and one rooster they are silkies the rooster ended up taking all the feather off the heads of my hens.he was tame to us but would not leave the hens alone. We re homed him.

 

[Free Feather]

Every rooster is different, as is every situation they are living.