[jonny1982]

Hello i just wanted some advice on keeping cockerels with hens as i have a flock of Rhode Island Reds and i want to breed them as i have an outstanding strain. I currently have 10 hens and one cockerel i was wondering if that was enough for fertilizing of would i have to take some hens away or add another cockerel?
I think im stretching it a bit ? any advice anyone?

jonny

[babe]

hi ya, RIR are not the most athletic birds, so i would personally say two cocks to 10 hens.

also bear in mind that they are not the best at going broody, so you'll get the eggs but no promise that the hen will stay put for 3 wks.

hope that helps and im sure someone else will be along with their take on it.

[babe]

you could always add a couple of say silkie hens, which go broody really easy to hatch the eggs for you.

[Bodger]

One to ten is more than enough You've never seen a sleepy cockerel

[GrannieAnnie]

I wouldn't have said get another cockerel for more fertility, but to give the other poor s*d a rest!!!!   What a way to go!!!!!!  

[slowef]

My Rhode cockerel Gary shows no interest in women at all just food :?   He is a year old now and has 6 girlfriends but doesn't "get it on" with any of them.

I would say watch him and see if he is covering them all and then decide but be warned 2 cockerals may fight.  

As anyone here knows I have had awful problems with Wellington and Darcy, its not pretty and they will fight till one kills the other (unless mum, i.e. me  breaks it up)

 I would not have 2 unless they are in seperate enclosures, def not if freeranging.

[Selkie]

My Rhode cockerel Gary shows no interest in women at all just food :?   He is a year old now and has 6 girlfriends but doesn't "get it on" with any of them.

Do you think he will when he's a bit older? (sorry if that's a dumb question)

[Bodger]

Sounds as though Gary is a gay cock :shock: He should have been at it for months by his age.

[dawninspain]

We have one cock to 17 hens.  The poor thing is in bed a good hour before the girls - worn out.

This is Fred:




 We plan to try hatching some eggs in the spring so we'll see how fertile he is then.

[Selkie]

Oh Dawn, he is beautiful - he looks so shiny!

[dawninspain]

Thanks Rose - we rehomed him and 3 hens  a few months back- they had  only been given white bread to eat and were very scruffy with no sheen to their feathers. They have settled well and look much better now.

Apart from 2 black hens our others are the usual brown hybrid types (Warrens I think). Does anyone know what chicks will result from a cross with our cockerel?  Not sure how the genetics works. Will they come out brown and good layers?

[jonny1982]

Thanks for all your advice s far everyone i have done some research and found that bantams are 1 cockerel to 10-15 hens and large fowl 1 cockerel to 6-8 hens these figure are for maximum fertility.
I think i will be ok with the one cockerel , hes only four months old now so hes not ready yet but i will keep an eye on him and see how he goes.

[jonny1982]

Hes a colourful cockerel dawninspain do you know what breed he is i think he looks like a welsummer?
It would be interesting to see what sort of chickens you get by breeding him.
You will have to see what happens!

[dawninspain]

Jonny - not sure what he is - they are more interested round here in the end result (i.e eggs or meat) and you get strange looks if you try to ask about breeds etc. As you say - we shall see what happens.

[slowef]

I don't know about Gary maybe he is still to young and will like girls given time :oops:
This is Gary at aout 6 months old
 

I don't think Dawns cockerel is a Welsummer as he is not tall enough and needs yellow legs but its a bit har to see from the photo.  This is a Welsummer cockerel my "Wellie"