Would you add a rooster?

[sdm111]

Awesome, thank you all for your thoughts!! While I would be prepared to deal with an aggressive rooster accordingly, I don't want to add more hens to my flock at this time, so I'll probably hold off on adding a roo. I appreciate your perspectives!

Don't believe all the rooster to hen requirements taken as gospel thats not always true. Pairs and trios can live great lives

All living happily ever after.
Don't believe everything you read or people tell you. They don't know
Obviously they don't know

 

[NatJ]

The usual recommendation is 1 male for every 10 females -- which isn't a guarantee that there won't be over-mating issues (I'm at 1-10 with mine and have 3 barebacked hens, one significantly so).

Don't believe all the rooster to hen requirements taken as gospel thats not always true. Pairs and trios can live great lives

Rooster-hen ratios are usually guidelines designed for large commercial flocks, where they want all eggs fertile (for hatching) but do not want to feed any more roosters than absolutely necessary (to save money). They wouldn't care whether the chickens are "happy" or whether some hens are overmated, as long as they stay healthy enough and keep producing eggs. Those ratios usually range from 1:12 down to 1:6 or so, depending on the breed.

I grant that overmating is less likely when more hens are available, but for a flock with only one rooster it really comes down to the temperament of the individual rooster. Averages are much more useful when dealing with a "flock" that has dozens of roosters and hundreds or thousands of hens.

 

[janiedoe]

I currently have 6 hens on about 1.8 acres. They free range and I've had no predator problems. I've considered getting a rooster several times, but haven't ever pulled the trigger. I'm nervous about all the possible negatives (too rough with the hens, over mating them (especially the one hen I have with a limp), being mean to my kids). The positives I see are that I could hatch my own eggs if/when I needed to, and I also just really like listening to roosters.

What are your experiences and thoughts?

You haven't heard my roosters, or you'd reconsider that as a positive. Lol.
Do you really want a rooster? Do you have a certain breed in mind?
I would be a little concerned about the hen with a limp.
Personally, I'd hatch some eggs and keep a male from the hatch. The older ladies will train him to behave.

 

[Geena]

Don't believe all the rooster to hen requirements taken as gospel thats not always true. Pairs and trios can live great lives

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All living happily ever after.
Don't believe everything you read or people tell you. They don't know
Obviously they don't know

Beautiful birds!
Gamefowl seem to be different in this respect, as they are in many other respects, to the average layer or dual purpose chickens. Perhaps because gamefowl generally have a much shorter laying/breeding season?
Every rooster I've ever had has over bred some of his girls, even if he had a dozen of them available.

 

[sdm111]

Beautiful birds!
Gamefowl seem to be different in this respect, as they are in many other respects, to the average layer or dual purpose chickens. Perhaps because gamefowl generally have a much shorter laying/breeding season?
Every rooster I've ever had has over bred some of his girls, even if he had a dozen of them available.

Thankyou
They are quite different than a layer type. They act alot more like their ancestors thousands of years ago. More like wild birds in the sense of the breeding season and how they both take care of one another like a married couple lol. I like to sit and just watch them alot they are always doing things together and for the other. Kind of like a mate for life thing. Although the males will breed another hen in a second lol
One other thing I don't believe temperament is genetic. Just as a nice pair can have mean offspring. Mean ones can have good offspring. I'm just saying don't not get a breed that you like just cause you read about one butthead. Get what you want as long as you've done your homework so you and the fowl can have the best of times and not turn into a nightmare

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I don't follow the 1:10 ratio. Mainly because I keep as many males as I can get away with if I'm being honest .

That being said, most of my males don't over breed. I have one male that's just a rough breeder, and I'm adding a few gals to see if it helps, but I'm doubtful. Other than that, in the 10+ years I've had males, I have had 3 hens bareback throughout that time and it was because that hen was the roosters favorite, so adding more likely wouldn't have helped imo.

I've had pairs, trios and more.

It just depends on if the male is behaved and respectful to people and birds.

 

[3KillerBs]

I grant that overmating is less likely when more hens are available, but for a flock with only one rooster it really comes down to the temperament of the individual rooster. Averages are much more useful when dealing with a "flock" that has dozens of roosters and hundreds or thousands of hens.

I think some of the bareback problem has to do with the quality/type of the hen's feathers too.

I have 2 males and 21 females right now -- all together. My worst bareback at the moment is a Black Langshan and the others are two of the Lavender Orpington x SLW mixes.

The ones who aren't showing any sign of rooster wear are the ones with the thicker, harder feathers as opposed to the softer feathers.

 

[Balaw_chicks]

Don't believe all the rooster to hen requirements taken as gospel thats not always true. Pairs and trios can live great lives

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All living happily ever after.
Don't believe everything you read or people tell you. They don't know
Obviously they don't know

Thats some Very beaitiful gamefowl birds. All the chickens i currently have has a gamefowl mix in them too. And i really didnt have any much problems with the roos. (but it could also probably be becuase i raise them from chicks). I had roos that really likes to mate with the hens and i also had some that‘s just enjoying the roo life.

 

[Mrs. K]

How old are your kids? Because if they are under 6, I would wait. As you know, a rooster attack can be real aggressive.

A lot of people on here, do not find them good for predator protection, and some are not. Not all roosters are good roosters. It is a crap shoot. But if you get a good rooster, well they are fun to have. I have had lots of roosters, some that were worthless, some that were so-so, and about 3 that made quite a difference in my flock.

You want a Bye rooster, someone who has had a great deal of experience, who has no qualms about disposing of a rotten rooster, or even a so-so rooster. An extra rooster that is so nice....

Mrs K

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

If I were you I would get an easy going breed. Like Orp. Then if that roo is mean, eat him and get another. Eventually you will find a good easy going boy that us good with the girls and with your kids.