Will I have too many roosters

[marvun22]

I have 3, possibly 4 roosters. 1 is grown up. 2 are 2 weeks old. 1, if it's a rooster, is 7 weeks old. I will have 24, possibly 25 hens. Would a 6/1 hen rooster ratio be ok. I was thinking about getting 15 hens in the near future. They probably be free ranging in the future, once the fox is gone. I am worried because I saw my neighbor, who had 33 hens and 5 roosters. She has some badly beat up hens, which is what convinced me to adopt one of her roos. Do I need a 10/1 ratio be ok, or is it just recommended? I hope I'll be ok. I will NOT cull any. I am one who coudn't stand to kill my pets.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

You may have problems with your flock. These include stressed hens (with decreased laying), barebacked hens, and rooster fights.

The 10:1 or more ratio of hens to roos is recommended because that seems to be just enough hens for each rooster to have his own flock and not try to poach hens from other roosters.

You've already seen what a too-small ratio will do to a flock. Unfortunately, you didn't learn from your neighbors' example.

If you're dead set against culling any roosters (and culling includes giving away or selling as well as killing) then you may want to make a bachelor pen out of sight of the main flock. Roosters can get along in a bachelor pen as long as there are no hens to fight over.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that you may have too many roosters. Some hens will become bare-backed anyway because they are so submissive to a rooster's advances, and some will be his favorites. Some of your cockerels may show aggression, and you will find out then how easy it is to cull. If you plan on ever raising chicks you will need to cull. The practice of putting cockerels in a bachelor pen is rather common with breeders after 12 weeks of age. Many roosters will get along fine in a bachelor pen if they been raised together, but not if you put a new guy in--he may be killed. When I have too many roos I offer them to my friend to feed his family.

 

[angel8035]

I would give it a shot and if they get too agressive, then you can try separating the roos. I know how you feel - I would never cull any of my little roos either!

 

[CherishHolland]

Currently I have 4 roosters to 45 pullets all in the same space they just kind of split the flock,no fights so far

Like someone suggested you might want to make a bachelor pad for them in case there are fights over hens. 10:1 ratio is best.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

I go by the 8:1 ratio.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I will say, if you can't cull roosters (and again, culling is not necessarily killing) then you probably should not hatch any of your own eggs or buy straight run chicks. You'll soon have far more roosters than you can handle.

 

[marvun22]

I could easily do that. I could separate the roosters from the rest of the flock before they realize the rest of the hens are hens and they are roosters. I might be getting some hens in the near future, so I would have the neccesary hens for everybody. I might not even have a problem with this in the future. Would the 8/1 ratio be ok if that's the case.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I could easily do that. I could separate the roosters from the rest of the flock before they realize the rest of the hens are hens and they are roosters. I might be getting some hens in the near future, so I would have the neccesary hens for everybody. I might not even have a problem with this in the future. Would the 8/1 ratio be ok if that's the case.

You're just going to have to try it and see. Every flock is different.

 

[marvun22]

I guess I will try and see how it goes.