Author Topic: How many hens is too many 1 Cock? (Read 1992 times)

katog · « **on:** September 15, 2017, 05:40:08 pm »

How many hens is too many for 1 red footed Columbian Black Tail Cock?
What harm would befall him if he had 30?
We'd love to downsize by putting all the chickens together rather than the present 2 seperate flocks.
Thanks for any advice.

roddycm · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2017, 06:47:32 pm »

No harm at all will befall him, you will find not all the eggs are fertile... but if you are not hatching it doesnt matter

Usual rates would be 1 to 10 maybe 12... he can handle a few more but this is the recommended rate!

Lucky chap hahah

Eve · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2017, 08:11:06 pm »

Don't worry, he won't die of exhaustion

But as mentioned above it matters if you want to hatch. My cockerel had 5 girls and every egg was fertile, now he has twelve hens and it's hit and miss.

roddycm · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2017, 10:46:06 pm »

if you want to keep more than one cock together just raise them together.... it doesn't always work but I have about 8 cockerels all living in harmony... each knows his place in the pecking order and they are by and large very happy to cohabit. We have lots of girls though, you could defo have two more with that many girls and it shouldn't be an issue. Just raise them together and introduce to your adult boy before they hit puberty. And if for some reason it fails then put them in a pot!

The other thing is that if you are not breeding you don't need a cock at all... lots to think about

katog · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2017, 03:30:17 pm »

We moved the houses down to the lower run and last night moved all the hens and the lucky cockerel and today all is well only a couple of squabbles and he looks happy