How many chickens are needed per rooster for fertilization: selection rules

Homemade chicken provides quality egg and meat products. The female copes with this task perfectly on her own, without the participation of the male. The rooster is only needed to breed the chicks, because without it, the eggs will remain unfertilized. Therefore, if there is a chicken coop on the farm, it is worth knowing the main functions of the male in the poultry community, as well as how many chickens are needed per rooster.

Does a chicken need a rooster?

To begin with, you should decide on the purpose of keeping poultry. There is no verified evidence in the literature that the presence of a rooster will depend on the number of eggs laid.

Quochkas have a natural ability to produce eggs on their own without the involvement of a male. Biologically, the egg matures and forms on its own.

Male needed for fertilization when planning chick hatching. If there is an interest in raising the younger generation, then one cannot do without a rooster, since a chicken without it will reproduce unfertilized eggs unsuitable for incubation.

Even the new state-of-the-art artificial hatching machine does not encourage chicks.

In addition to biological functions, the rooster also has some social responsibilities in bird society. Thanks to the male, complete order is ensured in the chicken coop, the schedule is controlled so that each resident wakes up on time, falls asleep and at the same time does not forget to eat food and rush.The head of the family prevents quarrels and fights, which often occur between couples, interceding and protecting weak representatives.

In the case of grazing in an open area, the rooster, as the leader of the flock, is responsible for each resident of the chicken coop. The male can intuitively feel the threat, it is his duty to give a sign to the wards so that they have time to get to a safe place. When attacked by a predator, he fights with him, without retreating, to the last. It turns out that his own safety means nothing to him when the life of an entire corral is at stake.

The appearance of a rooster can provoke the development of various incidents. Some females, with the arrival of a male in the flock, stop producing eggs and begin to actively look for a place to place a nest. Their actions interfere with the other residents of the chicken coop, against which numerous conflicts arise.

Also, the presence of a male can negatively affect the appearance of layers, because after frequent mating they receive numerous injuries.

It is worth considering that after the appearance of a rooster, the number of eggs will significantly decrease, due to the fact that they will be used to hatch chickens. As soon as the female begins to incubate, the male begins to practice singing and does not let all the local residents sleep in the morning. Feeding poultry can take place with some complications, as the rooster becomes hostile even to the owner, attacking him when trying to enter his territory.

Selection rules

When choosing a rooster, first of all, you need to make sure that he is he althy and productive. Signs of sexual dimorphism and other external features of a he althy representative should be clearly visible:

• well-developed bright red crest,
• smooth legs, well-shaped toes;
• spurs or bumps.

Already at the age of 5-6 months, the rooster has a characteristic appearance, individual behavioral traits and temperament.When choosing, you need to give preference to a male representative with such character traits as activity and cockiness. He should feel like a master, be responsible for the safety in the poultry yard and not be afraid to fight if necessary. You should not choose a male that attacks people, it can injure a child and an adult.

But there should be no hostility towards chickens, his main task is to protect and take care of the inhabitants of the chicken coop. This shows the feeding period: a good rooster will not climb first to the feed, but will protect the hens when eating and drive away intruders.

How many chickens for one rooster

The number of hens per rooster varies depending on the variety and breed of poultry.

For meat breeds

Meat, fighting breeds require more attention, therefore, according to statistics, only 8 cows are needed for 1 rooster. Since this variety of chickens is characterized by high weight and low mobility. Due to the low activity rate, many hens may remain infertile.

For laying hens

In order for all eggs to be 100% fertilized, you need 1 rooster for 10 egg-laying hens. This is the best option for the continuation of offspring. If you increase the indicator from 10 to 20 hens, many eggs will remain infertile.

Combining two or more cockerels in a herd

Combining 3 or more roosters in the same coop can lead to unforeseen situations. Constant competition, fights, squabbles have a bad effect on the life of the entire bird community. It should be limited to 2 males.

The age of the rooster is of great importance for the hens. The young male practically does not pay attention to the females, and if there are 2 immature representatives in the flock, then chickens are not expected at first. The most beneficial will be the content of 2 roosters, selected in such a way that one of them is young and the other is older.

Important! There can be 2 males in one chicken coop only if they grew up together, then they will be peaceful, get along quickly and will not conflict. The main thing is to choose the right breed, otherwise the crossing will not show good results.

What if the roosters fight?

Coop fights cause a lot of problems for the owner, the hens get nervous, and the number of eggs decreases. To avoid such situations, you need to clearly calculate and leave the minimum number of cockerels.

Replanting should be excluded, the appearance of a newcomer can disrupt the established system in bird society and provoke a conflict.

In extreme cases, you need to divide the enclosure so that each formed group has its own territory for walking, feeding and drinking bowls. You can install an inclined ladder in the center of the chicken coop.Thanks to her, weak representatives during the fight can avoid serious injuries by climbing up.

Why change the rooster?

Over time, the male ceases to cope with his main duties and is no longer useful. Passivity and carelessness appear in his behavior. Unfortunately, the age of 3-4 years is considered quite impressive. In this case, it is worth changing the old representative for a younger and more active rooster. He will fertilize chickens with high quality and protect the flock.

The replacement must be suitable, so there should be multiple candidates in the household. Hatched chickens grow over time, and then it becomes clear which one is which.

Young bettas can act aggressively, start a fight for no reason, but there are those who do not want to be in the spotlight and try to stay in the background. Naturally, neither the first nor the second applicant for the role of the head of the family is suitable.

A young rooster should be active during the feeding period, not start a fight, but be able to stand up for himself. If the inhabitants of the chicken coop are also calm and balanced in their presence, then these are the best candidates for the post of leader of the pack.

It is worth resorting to choosing a male from another flock with whom the hens have not yet crossed. This will help to avoid the appearance of various genetic diseases in the future and the reproduction of weak offspring.

What happens if the norm is not met?

Due to the large number of males in the pack, there is constant competition, against which conflicts and fights occur. Also, males need to fulfill their biological needs, which can lead to the fact that laying hens lose their external attractiveness, become plain and shabby. Due to frequent skin lesions and injuries, the female is at risk of catching an infectious disease.

When there is only 1 rooster in a large flock, empty, unfertilized eggs will periodically appear, from which a chick will never hatch. In order to breed poultry, one chicken coop should have at least 2 roosters.

Having figured out the intricacies of choosing a male who will be a reliable pack leader, father and protector, as well as having familiarized yourself with how many hens you need per rooster, you can confidently start breeding young offspring without fear and risk.

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