Keeping a Rooster (A Personal Journey)

This was such a fun and interesting article and the pictures where really terrific. I'd have like to have read some different perspectives though given the title of the article for learning aspects. Overall it left me with a smile.

Your writing is very good, but I wholeheartedl disagree with a lot of the information given, and should be stressed that this is your opinion only. Yes, having a rooster is a crap shoot of what type of personality you may get and some may work out and some may not, but your reasoning behind the way you handle your rooster is malarkey.....and that is just my opinion.

Thank you for such a great point of view on roosters!
I wish they were not illegal where I live...

Great, informative article. Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom.

Another great article on roosters! Thanks for sharing your journey and success with them! Very helpful to me!

Two times I had a grown up rooster who took care of offspring but eventually had to go. Because of the noise and because of there agressive behaviour. I allready used an advice to hold a bossy rooster to the ground. This worked well with one rooster. The other one was more flighly and I chased him whenever he jumped to me. But this was not enough to hold him back. Now my flock is without a rooster.

Next time I want chickens I buy fertile eggs and try to keep one rooster for the 3th time. With these advices I'm sure it will work out. A rooster collar for night-time will keep my neighbours happy. Roosters are allowed in my town when there is no one complaining. And also if noise is reduced from bed time till morning.

Thanks for taking the time to organize and write this!

Useful practical article that was also entertaining to read. I'll come back to this one when I live somewhere I can have a rooster.

thank for the great article! Our first foray into tending a backyard flock gifted us with one Roo, our all iridescent black PepperRoo. He is the light of our garden of hens; from his first hysterical gargling moaning crowing practises to his spot-on kind treatment and management of his girls. He never insists on his perogative, - only covering hens amenable to his advances while letting the girls who aren't in the mood pass by unmolested (so far no bald necks!) - crows a reasonable amount, and always ALWAYS calls the girls over when he finds food - even picking up any really special finds and holding it until one of his harem runs over to accept it.
But. While he has never attacked me, he absolutely cannot abide by my husband. He does crow, mount hens, and rise up to flap his wings in my presence, I think he must consider me to be a tall pink unfeathered mama hen since I'm the one who opens the coop every morning then proceeds to offer all the treats - probably reinforced by my habit of raking back tamped down layers of the straw and leaves so they can get at any worms or tender shoots hiding beneath every now and then.
But PepperRoo obviously sees my husband as either a threat or a competitor whenever he joins me in the chicken yard. He's tried carrying Pepper tucked under his arm while walking around; he's hand fed Pepper peanuts, he's tried stepping forward into Pepper when he starts showing aggression. That hasn't worked. The latest resort has been for hubby to carry large window screen with him so that when Pepper attacks he hits the screen instead of my husband's shins. Very aggravating for hubby.
We'll try the "pecking" treatment, and - thanks to your article - have my husband try the step-toward movement when Pepper mounts hens, crows, or mantles in his presence. We both agree PR's good behaviors far outweigh his aggressive behavior - especially since, while hubby is the one who makes sure they have food and water inside the coop and closes up the coop every evening after they've gone to roost, he spends very little time with them other than that nightly ritual.
Thanks again for the great tips!

I didn't know that a cockerel/rooster crowing while I am in the coop was a sign of aggression/dominance. You just cemented what I suspected. Of my 2 cockerels, I now know for certain which one to remove!

Good advice. I love my rooster. They are valuable to the flock as protectors and I love to hear him crow in the morning. In addition to some of the things you mentioned, I occasionally walk at him and make him move out of my way. If he decides to be brave and come at me, I quickly stick my foot under him and scoop him up and toss him away. It doesn't hurt him but he keeps his distance for a few days.

Love it really briefly described I really love reading it all I've rooster flock
I love rooster I know most people really don't like roosters I hope someday they have a equal place like all birds

Thanks for this article. I’m just getting started with laying hens and have a rooster in the bunch. They are all 20+ weeks old and the hens would be laying if it weren’t for the cold temps. Right now I’m planning to keep the roo...but we’ll see.

I too had my reign of rabble rousing roosters, and after the fourth in a row I said $crew it, and rehomed the last one. I knew all along hens layed on their own, and the ten I had easily provided enough eggs. Your article made it all sound like fun!

Well written and good information. A lot of us will be able to relate to the bad experiences and the information on how to tame rooster's was good. Of course it is unusual to get a very friendly pet type rooster and this article reflects the more common rooster pros and cons.

I read this article and frankly I was appalled. It’s full of frightened old wives tales and what’s worse, dead roosters.
Normally I would just pass this by. However, people are going to read this nonsense given it’s a featured thread.
What has upset me most is you can write a good story which could be an enormous asset to teaching if the information was correct.
I’ve picked out just a few passages that I think are worth commenting on.



“because we all know hens wont lay eggs unless they have a rooster.”
This must be humor because as it reads it’s complete and utter nonsense.

"Then it dawned on me. Roosters just cant be pets.”
There are many people who keep roosters as pets here on BYC.

"Pretty soon, I felt an attack was imminent and banned my sons from visiting the coop.”
This is the most sensible part of the article and good advice for anyone who keeps roosters. Don’t let children near them.

"To that end, the roosters brain is on constant defense mode. Some roosters on the other hand, take it a step further, because fortune favors the prepared, they attack anything and everything that could be a threat.”
If only this was true; I would have less dead hens. Most roosters give the warning call and run. They’re not stupid creatures.

"But I am the one that gives him permission. I had Stinky trained to the point that he would stay squatting down, head to the floor until I nudged him.”
Just sad.

"Always show strength and dominance. You are the superior being, bigger and have the axe. Never forget it, and make sure he does not either.”
If only this was true. A superior bing wouldn’t have to kill a succession of roosters because they couldn’t handle them. Just being bigger and supposedly smarter should do the trick. You don’t need the axe.

I could write more but I would be wasting my time.

Update: I was so excited thinking I could change Rodger's mindset. I've worked with him daily, and recently he was SO good when I treated his comb and wattles after a touch of frostbite! Afterwards, the girls delegated him to the roost below them for the night! That was a sad sight. He was back on the top roost with his girls the next night though. He steadily stayed getting worse again, and tonight he REALLY tried to spur me and got the broom I carry instead! I didn't even see it coming till the last minute. I feel like I've let him down. I don't think I can carry on like this though. He's the most amazing protector of his girls, he always feeds them first. And her warns them to get to cover if he sees something he doesn't like in the yard. I know her sacrifice himself for his girls and that's what makes this hard. He may have to. I'm heartbroken.
I love your article and I'm sure many have benefited in a positive way. But I think I'll have to say goodbye to Sir Rodger.

View attachment 1640211 I related to EVERYTHING you said. From the sweet, supportive hubby to the ninja spurring roo! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! Thank you for your great article! I too read about 'hugging it out' with a roo on BYC and understood more of his role in life! I have a cream legbar rooster and he has four ladies...... All divas! So they've all got actress/singers names. Princess Fiona (cream legbar) Goldie Hawn (golden laced wyandotte) Jose Moran (Blue Maran) Sophia Loren (silver laced wyandotte) and the king... Sir Rodger!!!
He only crows at sunrise, lucky me. But once he starts he does it for about five minutes and continues throughout the morning!
I didn't want to give up on him even after he tried to spur me the very first time, and yes, he flew at me like a ninja, all feathers, feet and beak. But it's the break that made contact with my jeans AND my skin. Not one to give up easily, even after continuously being told to put him in the pot by the local farmers, I searched on here and found my answer! Hug it out! I managed to grab a leg. That was it.... He was MINE!
He'll still test me from time to time and as soon as I can get my pond fishing net (l use to get leaves out of the horses mini pond) from under three feet of frozen snow, I'll be able to catch and hug him a lot easier.
I love my roo and the pot wasn't an option. I don't want chicks just two more pullets.
He's definitely a 'morning sex' roo and doesn't care whether I'm there or not!! But he does need a couple more hens.
UPDATE: Rodger has remained pretty good after my failed attempt to catch him! I'm happy so far!
I took it as a light hearted roo owners experience.

Thank you for this.