The Complete Life Cycle of a (Mostly) Happy Rooster

[Henriettasmum]

It certainly was very well written. I am a freelance journalist (not about my feathered friends but in another field) so I can appreciate a good story. It was entertaining as well as educational. I learned a lot from it.

 

[Daisy8s]

What a wonderful story. I cried when relating it to my husband. I felt so much sympathy for The Rooster and also for one of my boys (the first in my flock). He isa white silkie whose name is Henry. He was friendly while young then turned nasty and for so long I just thought he was evil. I reacted in the same way you initially did to no avail. He hated me and I was ready to throttle him. However, he was wonderful with his girls, making sure that they were safe. He would wait at the door of the pen and wouldn't go back in to roost for the night until they were all inside. As his sons grew up, they put him in his place for a while and he was no longer cock o'the walk, but one of them is now his protector which is an interesting sight to see. Occasionally, he gets his mojo back and takes a little run at me, but they are half-hearted attempts and I ignore them. He's a beautiful white silkie and produces beautiful babies, and despite what I considered to be his evilness, I love him. Now, after your article, I understand him. We have regular cuddles which he seems to enjoy and these will now be accompanied with a deep understanding that he's just doing his job. Thank you again for that.

I"m truly touched by your thoughtful response! I'm so glad to see this post helping people in exactly the way I had hoped it would.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Beautiful post/story - thank you so much for sharing!

 

[Daisy8s]

Beautiful post/story - thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks so much! I've been wanting to share his story for awhile now. He is the rooster in my avatar. That picture was taken when he was just a young juvenile.

 

[Daisy8s]

I also wanted to thank Centrarchid here on BYC who provided much of the insight into rooster behavior that helped me understand what was going on. I think it would've taken me much longer to understand my rooster without reading his perspective as he answered other's questions.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well written and some very good advice. The longer I have chickens, the less problems I have with them. Space is important, confidence is important.

I would worry about a rooster near children, as roosters tend to attack them first. You were very lucky. The top of your boots, could be the face of a child. One must always be aware of an intact male animal around children.

Good roosters are a joy.

 

[varidgerunner]

It is possible to have a rooster to fill all of the roles of flock protector very well, AND be nice. Sometimes attacking humans is just the product of having a screw loose. Of course any of them can be made mean. I have two and three year old roosters that I can walk up to and pick up their hens with no problems. Won't let a predator do it, but humans are off limits. Takes a lot of breeding, and that breeding is not present in birds that have been selected for eggs, meat, fluffiness, or whatever, regardless of temperament. Most people that BREED chickens, don't deal with them in a backyard type setting. They throw a rooster that is the right color in a breeding pen with some hens, collect eggs and if they have a mean one, no big deal, throw some feed in the feeder mounted outside the pen, reach through the egg door to get eggs, and hang a clean waterer. Most times it will never be an issue if you aren't hanging out there a lot. If it does become an issue, how many hundreds of eggs from that rooster have already been put in an incubator? Most hatchery grade dual purpose breeds have a fair chance at being human aggressive if handled a lot. Many breeders simply don't handle their males any more than necessary, leave them half wild and scared of people and it is never an issue.

But, it is possible to breed human aggression out of roosters, while leaving them still quite roosterish. Also possible to handle and tame a rooster from hatching and never have any aggression issues towards his owner..

 

[Daisy8s]

It is possible to have a rooster to fill all of the roles of flock protector very well, AND be nice. Sometimes attacking humans is just the product of having a screw loose. Of course any of them can be made mean. I have two and three year old roosters that I can walk up to and pick up their hens with no problems. Won't let a predator do it, but humans are off limits. Takes a lot of breeding, and that breeding is not present in birds that have been selected for eggs, meat, fluffiness, or whatever, regardless of temperament. Most people that BREED chickens, don't deal with them in a backyard type setting. They throw a rooster that is the right color in a breeding pen with some hens, collect eggs and if they have a mean one, no big deal, throw some feed in the feeder mounted outside the pen, reach through the egg door to get eggs, and hang a clean waterer. Most times it will never be an issue if you aren't hanging out there a lot. If it does become an issue, how many hundreds of eggs from that rooster have already been put in an incubator? Most hatchery grade dual purpose breeds have a fair chance at being human aggressive if handled a lot. Many breeders simply don't handle their males any more than necessary, leave them half wild and scared of people and it is never an issue.

But, it is possible to breed human aggression out of roosters, while leaving them still quite roosterish. Also possible to handle and tame a rooster from hatching and never have any aggression issues towards his owner..

Good points. Thanks for commenting, varidgerunner.

The rooster in my story was a factory grade Barred Rock that was one of millions produced by that hatchery. I doubt that temperament was ever a factor in their breeding choices; preferring instead to focus on egg production and color.

Now that we've had chickens for several years we are much more selective about where we purchase chicks if we decide to add a new bloodline.

 

[newhamplover]

Great story & very well written, I really enjoyed it & it gave me a lot to think about. Most all problems with all animals is people not knowing-understanding that animals own characteristics. I was taught that if you ever got bit by a dog, hurt by a horse, etc. it was your fault. I am 63 & have never been bit by a dog. I competed with horses for 38 years & was never injured by one. Learning the language of any animal that you own is the responsibility of the owner. I know there are mean horses, dogs, roosters but the how & why they got that way is the problem. Learning to live in their world is to be successful with animals. You did a fantastic job of learning that & passing it on to others. I love my Harry rooster & I have hatched 7 of his offspring. I have at least 2 rooster chicks. Was thinking of wanting to keep one but after reading your story my thinking was wrong. They are 5 weeks now & are just beautiful & I am so attached to them but Harry is too good of a rooster to subject him to being dethroned later on. He is a sweetheart & that would break my heart to see him done like that. So I will have to find homes for his sons. So glad I read your post....thank you, thank you.

 

[LMVB]

Great story, and maybe if I adapt some of your approaches, Festus and I can negotiate a truce. The main problem now, is he's attaching his litter mate--the other Astrolorpe. Once he's penned her down, for waaay longer than the typical mating, a few of the other hens come peck on her while she's being cornered and attacked. I've been separating her a few hours a day so she can forage, drink water (they were keeping her away from the water containers). I just don't understand why now, out of nowhere, he's picking on her: she used to be his favorite.
We are trying to locate a new, safe home for him but in the meantime, I'll try your tactics. We are considering separating him from the flock for 3-4 days and observe their behavors: are they happier or more frightened without them?
Thanks so much. I didn't know where else to turn. What a wonderful community! I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.