A little nervous about roosters

[NorthChicken]

So I have two 5 week old chicks in my little flock that MAY be potential roos. One is a silkie, so you know how that goes! No telling until they crow or lay an egg. The other is my BLRW. Definitely the bravest of the bunch and has come flying out of nowhere and chest bumped my dog (only a shih tzu who is very curious about the chicks). Very friendly, though, loves to jump up on my lap and will fall asleep being pet, and goes ragdoll limp in your hands when you pick her/him up. The others are a little more spastic flap/scream when picked up. The BLRW came from a hatchery and they claimed she will be a pullet, but I know hatcheries aren't 100% accurate.

So anyways, if they are in fact roos, I live in the country and don't really have neighbors that are too close. So I could potentially keep a rooster, but is it silly that I am intimated by them? I've never owned one but have heard so many scary stories of people being spurred or being nervous to even go out on their property. I have a 5 year old son that loves to check for eggs and pet the flock, so I have him to worry about.

So, is it possible to have nice roosters? Do you have to treat them any differently than the girls? Any tips for a new chicken and potential rooster owner?


Any thoughts? 5 weeks old, and I see a slight pink to the comb.

 

[iwiw60]

Really need better pics..closeups of each bird in question...

 

[aart]

If you have small kids, roosters are not good idea...
......they can turn from sweet and cuddly to ranting, raving, spurring maniacs in a flat second with no warning.

Not worth the risk of a child's trauma, not to mention their eyes, IMO.

5 weeks is a little young to tell roos from pullets unless you have several of the same pure breeds...but generally larger pinker combs early...and any show of wattle growth denotes males. You'll probably know for sure before they are old enough to hurt anyone.

 

[NorthChicken]

Ok, thanks for the advice. Part of me wanted to have a rooster to protect the flock since they free range but not if there is any chance of my son getting hurt. I wasn't sure just how unpredictable roosters could be, so I will stay on the safe side and rehome any roos.

 

[K9Dave]

There are threads about mean Roosters and most day to not keep a "mean" one. The say there are way too many to settle for a bad one. People on here say that their roosters are the nicest most cuddly ones out of the flock.

Find a nice one. Keep it and breed it is my opinion along with a lot told others in here. I had 4 roosters and I live in the city now. The first sign of aggression I chase them around the yard and scare the crap out of them. It's just the animal trainer in me. Only the alpha can chase you around so I have taught them that I'm the boss and they are doing very well. I wish I could keep an adult rooster here.

You can so take advantage of it. Not a big deal. People say to not hold them and coddle them like you do the hens. I just speak to them and keep them used to being held. Good luck.

 

[Folly's place]

I've had great roosters, and real jerks. I love having the good ones, I think they are an important part of having a balanced flock. The boys need to respect my space, move away from me as I walk around, and never challenge me at all. I have had chicks as young as 8 weeks, try to push me around. They only get worse!!! Any cockrel that challenges you needs to be chased around and corrected. Any further challenge makes him dinner, IMO. If you have small children, zero tolerance is key. I don't make pets of the cockrels, the really 'friendly' ones often try you out a little later. Some breeds or bloodlines will have nicer males than others. Your Wyandotte looks like a cockrel to me, but it's early to be sure. Mary