What is the correct ratio of roosters to hens?

[Den in Penn]

Keeping the eggs fertile seems to the main reason, so if you use the ratio that hatcheries use, about one rooster for every ten hens is what you should aim for. I would monitor how fertile the eggs are and adjust as necessary. You could also keep fewer. As the time you want to hatch approaches, confine ten hens with the rooster you like to make sure those eggs are fertile.

All chicks pullet or cockerel will "mock" fight to establish the pecking order, the pullets just do it less. There are always those that don't develop as early as a month and can take much longer to show themselves and so can fool even an experienced eye.

 

[Rockythgr81]

Thanks, I understand the risk of the smaller space but I will be keeping a close eye on the flock (like I said, I am bordering on obsession here). Also, a friend of my is trying to get me to sell him some, which I may end up doing soon.
I also just noticed today that some of my boys are starting to develop their wattles and some of their "rooster" feathers. I am still trying to figure out how to post pictures. I am pretty proud of them so far.

 

[Michael OShay]

With your additional info, I'd say you could run 3-5 roosters nicely with that many hens. The exact number and which ones are just going to depend on who behaves well and is pleasing to you.

Your young birds are just around a month, correct? I have a grow out pen of birds this age, and the roosters and pullet alike spar and mock fight all the time. I can't really tell the difference between the genders, behavior-wise. They're all kids and playing rough like kids do

I'm concerned about your space, though. If the coop and run you've described above are your housing for this flock, it's not near large enough unless you're going to cull a lot of birds. A good rule of thumb is minimum 4 square feet per bird inside and 10 per bird outside. Granted, that's a rule of thumb and different folks can flex that, but overcrowding leads to unhealthy birds, physically and mentally. You may have a different plan in mind, I'm just going off what you've posted.

x2 on the overcrowding.

 

[subhanalah]

I would say about 10 hens and 1 rooster with a coop that size.
You could do 20 total birds, but you could run into crowding peoblems.
You could do more hens with just one rooster, but then your fertility will waver.

 

[Rockythgr81]

Here is a picture of one of the more developed boys. And some of the girls. There are some other boys in there too, they are the ones with the yellower hue to them.

 

[Rockythgr81]

Let me diminish the concerns about the small yard. I suck at math and therefore was doing it wrong. I spoke to my friend who is helping me build it and I foolishly thought that because I will have 100ft of fencing that translated to only 100sq ft. In fact, it will be closer to 625 sq ft and that is not counting the area of the coop itself. Sorry if I made people think I was running a "chicken mill".
You still might think it a little small, but surely not as bad as originally thought.

 

[Rockythgr81]

The lot will be roughly 25 X 25

 

[subhanalah]

The main problem I see is the coop, confinement will bring many problems with a coop that is holding 3 times it's capacity.

 

[Rockythgr81]

I appreciate your concern, but not a problem, they will have access to the outside whenever they want it.

 

[donrae]

that sounds much better on the space, and I'm glad to hear it! Never thought you were running a chicken mill, but so many folks just don't know how much space birds need to be healthy. that space sounds much better. Agree the coop may be a little tight depending on the weather, but my birds go out in the rain a lot so I wouldn't sweat it much.

And trust me, you're not the only math challenged person here