Get a rooster or not get a rooster

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Stehiiboo

Stehiiboo

In the Brooder
5 Years
Mar 13, 2014
48
4
34
I just got a coop with 7 hens last weekend. They are doing well and I've started free ranging them.

We live on 10 acres and I've caught coyotes racoon and opossum on a trail cam. This was way back at the edge of our property and they've never come up closer as far as I can tell. We also have hawks.

Now I wonder should I get a rooster or not... a lot of people say they're more trouble than they're worth but I know they will protect their flock even with their own life.

If I should would it be okay to do it now? They're still adjusting to the new land and they did some picking on one hen earlier in the week when I had them locked up for a few days.

I just don't want to stress them out even more by bringing in a rooster
 
Stehiiboo said:
I just got a coop with 7 hens last weekend. They are doing well and I've started free ranging them.

We live on 10 acres and I've caught coyotes racoon and opossum on a trail cam. This was way back at the edge of our property and they've never come up closer as far as I can tell. We also have hawks.

Now I wonder should I get a rooster or not... a lot of people say they're more trouble than they're worth but I know they will protect their flock even with their own life.

If I should would it be okay to do it now? They're still adjusting to the new land and they did some picking on one hen earlier in the week when I had them locked up for a few days.

I just don't want to stress them out even more by bringing in a rooster
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I would think this is the time to get a rooster if you're going to; while everything is new to the hens. Once they have adjusted to their new home they will be more aggressive towards a rooster; resulting in a bit more fighting.

A rooster can not protect the hens from the predators you mention. He would just be another tasty morsel. A rooster may try to protect the hens, but it's a losing battle.
 
Well they have all been living together since they were chicks and they're almost 2 now. So I think they're already used to each other and then the coop is the one they've lived in forevr. It's just in a new yard.

Would that change anything?
 
Stehiiboo said:
Well they have all been living together since they were chicks and they're almost 2 now. So I think they're already used to each other and then the coop is the one they've lived in forevr. It's just in a new yard.

Would that change anything?
Click to expand...
Then it probably doesn't matter when the rooster is added since the coop is the same.
 
The rooster "may" alert, and give the hens a chance to fly up to safety (if they really can fly) or to hide in the bushes, or someplace that would give them cover, and not been seen/eaten.

However for a first time chicken owner, it may be best to wait abit, and just get use to hens ... Maybe next spring or summer, re-evaluate and see if you really want one ... With that few hens, a rooster may over mate the hens, depends on the individual rooster, some just can't seem to ever stop!
 
If your going to free range a rooster is a must. He may not be able to do much against a fox or something bigger but their great at giving warnings and giving hens a chance to get away. I have a few big roo's who have actually teamed up to chase a way a couple of Hawks, mind you not very big Hawks. Best rule to free ranging is be there when your chickens are out and free ranging.
 
Roosters are usually the first to go missing in free ranging as they will run out to confront predators or try to protect hens, but once they are gone, that's it, it's more of a sacrificial warning system for predators, so you know you have a problem, but he is worthless for any night time predators.
 
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If you're going to free range, you're going to lose birds unless you have a combo of electric fence and properly managed dogs.

Yep, a rooster will alert the hens. but that's only going to help if they have someplace they can get away from the predator. Some roosters will sacrifice themselves to a predator, some will run and hide faster than the pullets. An older rooster is a better bet for a flock protector, younger than a year or so and he's not going to be much good at this job.
 

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