A couple of rooster questions and a random question

[marvun22]

Ok here's the problem. I had 1 rooster. He is not the best rooster. He abuses the hens and doesn't defend them and he crows all day long. I still like him for some reason. Either way, I just got a batch of 15 chicks from Ideal Poultry. I got 2 roosters in that bunch. One is a Rhode Island Red and the other is a New Hampshire. I got the Rhode Island Red to defend the younger birds. I got the New Hampshire because it is very similarly related to a RIR. I am assuming they will defend the younger birds. Would they defend the older chickens? What should I name my New Hampshire rooster? I have named my other 2 roosters Roy and Plato off of this show my kids watch called U.S. Acres. My EE rooster looks nothing like that Roy though. Also, did anyone who got Buff Orpingtons from Ideal get ones with yellow legs? I know it's a birth defect or something. I don't care because one of my favorites has yellow legs. I'm just wondering.

 

[chfite]

Some roosters are better than others. Keep the good one. We had a barred rock rooster that was a jerk. He was rehomed. We kept the other.

Mine tends to all the hens, the ones he grew up with and the new ones added a year later.

Chris

 

[Mrs. K]

Roosters really are not any protection until they are nearly a year old. At puberty they only have one thing on their mind.

I am interpreting your post as that the chicks are currently separated from the hens? Or do you have a broody hen raising them with the flock?

Because 2 strange roos are NOT going to be tolerated by the mature rooster, and when you mix them, I think you are going to have terrible fights.

I think you should cull your older rooster, when you get close to integration time. Often times roosters raised together will work out all right.

Mrs K

 

[marvun22]

The way my system works, everyone is slowly mixed in. My adult birds all free range. My young chickens stay in the coop until they're 10-15 weeks old. The only time they actually have time to interact is during the night when they're sleeping and in the morning before I let them out. There is very little time they could interact. When they go outside, the young ones are much bigger and they have plenty of places to run and hide.

 

[megan80568]

I'm having a similiar issue. I had 18 week old barred rock roo and 18 week old male mallard that a friend gave me. The barred rock was supposed to be a hen. I also have 4 14 week silkies and 3 assorted 14 week sexed pullets. I'm concerned about keeping a male in my backyard flock. The noise doesn't bother me but will I all.of a sudden Have a ton of chicks? Or if I get the eggs everyday will I be okay? So far he just gets bossy at times Like When they are first let out in the morning. Otheriwse he is okay. Also what if one of the silkies turns out to be a roo? Will they fight all the time?

 

[gryeyes]

Fertilized eggs are just like unfertilized eggs unless they are incubated, either artificially in an incubator or under a broody hen. They taste no different and have exactly the same nutritional value as the eggs laid by hens with no roosters.

Gather your eggs daily and you'll never have chicks. When I started with chickens, I thought all hens sat on their eggs. Noop, it's more likely they will lay their eggs and walk away without any interest in "setting."