Also the more energy that is wasted on fighting or guarding the flock, the less time the rooster spends mating with the hens and watching out for them – so flock fertility suffers. My bantam has to be separated from the standard rooster because he will fight (and win) against the larger bird. This can lead to fights which may have a very ugly outcome for the weaker bird.Īlso Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas generally do not play nicely with other males.ĭo not assume a bantam rooster won’t attack a standard sized rooster. They have a reputation for being aggressive at mating times (especially if there is another rooster around). Rhode Island Reds are a good example of this. However certain breeds will not tolerate any other roosters in the flock. The subordinate rooster can be quite devious in trying to mate with the hens and often manages to mate with a couple of the hens. You will notice the dominant male will do everything he can to prevent the secondary rooster from mating with his ladies. Some roosters are mellow enough to tolerate another male in the area but only if there are enough hens. The exact number of roosters you keep will depend on the breed and the number of hens you have. If you want to keep more roosters you either need more flocks or a male only flock. How Many Roosters Should I Keep?Īs a general rule you should only keep one rooster in a flock. In the wild the young roosters would be driven away from the flock to preserve food and other resources. The hens will come next in importance with secondary roosters coming in last. The hen to rooster relationship is much the same except that the rooster rules over all with the head hen as second in command. The contest will become (or stay) leader of the group. If the head rooster becomes sick or starts to fail he will be challenged by a younger bird. The leader will be at the top with his subordinates below him. The smartest and most able hens will be at the top of the hen group, while the younger, older and shyer birds will be at the bottom.Ī hen will rise up the ladder based on her cunning and ability. The pecking order can be roughly divided into three relationships:īy adding or removing roosters you rebalance (or unbalance) the pecking order. Whilst it can be quite complex we have created a simplified version to help you understand where the rooster fits into the system. This is all to do with the pecking order.Ĭhickens have a system of organization and social hierarchy known as the pecking order. You might ask why does the number of roosters you have in a flock impact their behavior? So regardless of the breed keep more than 6 hens for a youngster, as keeping less is likely to create some treading injuries with your hens. Generally at least 3 days per week should be enough for the hens to rest up.Īlso remember that young roosters (cockerels) are more likely to be rough with the hens whilst mating. It is up to you to determine how much of a break they need. This will give the hens a nice little break from him and he also has a chance to recharge his batteries. Putting the rooster in a separate area from the hens for a few days works really well. If they start avoiding the rooster or their feathers are looking battered and torn then it is time for him to have a break in solitary. Hens can get some serious injuries from an overly zealous rooster, so keep an eye on the girls. This gives the rooster a better opportunity to cover the hens in his flock adequately. The reasoning behind this is that these roosters are more active and will be able to service more hens because of their higher energy.Ĭertain breeds that are more mellow such as Silkies or Orpingtons should have a lower ratio (1:6). However the exact ratio for your flock will depend on the particular breeds you have and the number of hens you have.īreeds that are lightweight and active (such as Leghorns and Fayoumis) can have a higher hen to rooster ratio (12:1). The generally accepted ratio is 10 hens for every 1 rooster. What Is The Perfect Rooster To Hen Ratio? Benefits Of Keeping Roosters In Your Flock.What Is The Perfect Rooster To Hen Ratio?.
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