Rooster to hen ratio

[TAMMACLEAN]

I was just wondering what a good rooster to hen ratio is. I want to start selling hatching eggs locally and I just would like to know how many hens I should have per rooster. Thanks!

 

[Lollipop]

I was just wondering what a good rooster to hen ratio is. I want to start selling hatching eggs locally and I just would like to know how many hens I should have per rooster. Thanks!

For fertile eggs, the recommended max is 10-12 hens per rooster. That ratio depends on the fertility of the rooster and breed, of course, as some can fertilize more hens and some less. Good luck with your aspirations......Pop

 

[DamselinFlannel]

Are you going to be breeding one breed or multiple breeds? That would make a difference. I am culling my rooster population down to my three favorite roosters over 13 hens. I could probably work it down to two.... I have just one breed of chicken, but three different color varieties, and I want a rooster of each! Good luck, and have fun!

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Thanks!

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

I am thinking that I'd like to do a couple different breeds. I plan one keeping the breeds seperate from each other.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

It depends on the rooster, some are good with only a few hens, some want 10 or 12. My flock free-ranges so they have a lot of space to stay away from each other, I have about 5 roosters and maybe 10-15 hens right now.

 

[7L Farm]

I have two flocks consisting of 16 hens & one roo in one coop & 10 hens in another coop. I free range them all together. Believe it or not I'm hatching right now & have moved 40 chicks from my bator to the brooder. So guess I'd have to say my one roo is doing a good job on fertlizing the eggs. I originally put 48 eggs in the bator.

 

[suzeqf]

At the moment have my main flock roo and his brother and 3 banty roo for 5 reg size hens and 5 banty hens and I have 23 10 week old girls and maybe 2 10 week old roos. I've re-home 4 roos(the joys of straight run chicks) which has really helped a lot the big girls are actually starting to get their feather back and are more laid back and are laying better

 

[countrygirl74]

Asking a question for a family member... is it alright to have 2 hens and 1 rooster? That's what they ended up with and can't keep any more than 3. Will those 2 hens get too stressed or will they be ok? I wasn't sure because I have 12 hens and only 1 rooster right now.

 

[CedarRidgeFarm]

My own opinion is 1 Roo per 3-4 Hens