Will 2 roos in a flock of 20 fight too much?

[GammaPoppyLilyFlutter]

I don't have any roos myself, but I read that the rooster to hen ratio is 1 roo for every 10 hens

 

[Judy]

I have two with 11 hens. No fights. It's obvious which is #1, he chases #2 several times a day, but only 10' or 15' or so. There isn't even any contact much less pecking or real fighting. #2 has his spot on the roost away from #1, and he has to wait til everyone else is settled down. The only hen that looks beat up at all is my little BO hussy who runs up to one or the other of them, squats and ASKS to be mated frequently.

It just depends on the personality and/or hormone level of the individual roos. I've had other well behaved roos. The ones who are people aggressive or rough on hens don't stay here long.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Well it depends also on the type of chickens you have. smaller sized chickens can use 1 rooster per 10...larger roosters as my cochin in my avatar is about 1 to 6 hens...because they are larger. That is what i was always told and read in my poultry books/magazines.

 

[gryeyes]

Ummm, the hen to roo ratio generally refers to fertility issues, as in how many hens can a rooster cover and have all the eggs be fertile. And, therefore, that would be ideal flock size for one rooster. Somehow it gets bent into "need another rooster or more hens" if that ratio is off.

Only the roosters decide if they feel the need to fight over their harems of hens. I have around 50 chickens and at least 7 Roos. There is one dominant rooster, and a couple next level guys, and some no status at all fellows.

Roosters here don't fight. I have expected or feared it might happen, but it hasn't happened.

 

[jmc]

i guess the heart of my o. p. was Gail Damerow's assertion:

maybe not good to keep just one rooster, cuz if something happens to him, then you got no sire for breeding;

BUT,

two roosters in a flock will be a recipe for fighting;

SO,

better to have three.

this is her thesis.

does any one have the experience to agree or dis-- with this assertion?

i wouldn't want more than two but the fighting possibility is a concern. i'm busy enough!