I've had chickens for a few years now, but only hens. We lost the last of our first flock this spring. In our new pullets that I bought, 2 turned out to be roos. I've gotten over my sadness of Lady Jane being Mr. Darcy (for anyone who read my thread in the gender section...), but now I'm wondering if I should keep one of the roos afterall (I'm sure I can talk hubby into it!). I have someone buying my first roo this afternoon, so I will have 1 roo to my 8 ladies.
So, my questions to all you "old timers" (I've been reading through the old timer thread....might take me a LONG while!
infact, I might be an old time before I finish!), and you not so old times, are as follows:
1. What are the pros/cons of having a rooster?
2. Would the 1 to 8 ratio be okay, or would the hens be over stressed by his "attentions"? If my number of pullets is too small, how many would be sufficient so as not to overtax them and keep him happy?
3. Would he need to be housed seperately or would he be fine in the coop every night with the ladies? Could the ladies be in the tractor or run and he be completely free ranging to give them a break, or would that create problems?
4. Eggs....from what I understand about fertilized eggs is that if I collect and refridgerate them daily, I won't end up cracking an egg to find a chick. Is this correct? I don't always refridgerate my eggs right away, so that is something I would need to know! What if I decided at some point to try my hand at hacthing some eggs?
5. He is part silkie and possibly part crevecouer (not sure his heritage as he was sold as a barnyard mix...he is starting to show some red in his hackle feathers so not sure about the crevecouer, but he does have the crest feathers), I don't really know how large or small he will be...I do have one bantam pullet...will he end up hurting her since she is smaller?
Okay, that is enough questions for now. I look forward to anyone's advice and experience, and thank you ahead of time.
So, my questions to all you "old timers" (I've been reading through the old timer thread....might take me a LONG while!

1. What are the pros/cons of having a rooster?
2. Would the 1 to 8 ratio be okay, or would the hens be over stressed by his "attentions"? If my number of pullets is too small, how many would be sufficient so as not to overtax them and keep him happy?
3. Would he need to be housed seperately or would he be fine in the coop every night with the ladies? Could the ladies be in the tractor or run and he be completely free ranging to give them a break, or would that create problems?
4. Eggs....from what I understand about fertilized eggs is that if I collect and refridgerate them daily, I won't end up cracking an egg to find a chick. Is this correct? I don't always refridgerate my eggs right away, so that is something I would need to know! What if I decided at some point to try my hand at hacthing some eggs?
5. He is part silkie and possibly part crevecouer (not sure his heritage as he was sold as a barnyard mix...he is starting to show some red in his hackle feathers so not sure about the crevecouer, but he does have the crest feathers), I don't really know how large or small he will be...I do have one bantam pullet...will he end up hurting her since she is smaller?
Okay, that is enough questions for now. I look forward to anyone's advice and experience, and thank you ahead of time.
