[frenchliving]

What is the norm ration, I have 2 hens and one cockerel (the hens seem happy with this - no feather loss etc!) But my new chick I am sure is a cockerel (he is 1.5 weeks old!) dont really what to get rid, we are/were thinking of getting some silkies - would they mix with my bantams ok? and if so how many should I look at getting. I have a coop/area of 4m x 1.5 - but they free range all day!

Thanks

[Casey76]

Personally i think that 1:2 is too high.  I prefer 1:5.  One cockerel can be happy with up to 9 hens, but after that fertility starts to decline.

If you don't want fertile eggs, I wouldn't bother with a cockerel at all

[Prod]

I have one cockerel (welsummer)  and 5 pure breeds  Although he is younger he really looks after the girls and keeps them on their toes!!!

[Sassy]

My second lot of chooks was a cock and 2 hens. I learnt very quickly that you need more hens. The hens ended up with barebacks that were quite red and scratched at times - they had too much attention. I would not do it again. Some may have success as it will depend on the cockerel, they're all different. I had to have the cockerel culled as he became extremely nasty and the old countryman who did it for me laughed when he saw how many hens I had in relation to the cockerel.