Adding a roo?

[KelsiNS]

My girls range from 6-10 weeks old, and we supposedly got a rooster (which im doubting). My question-should i get.a roo asap thats roughly the same age so he can grow up with the girls and i can hand raise him, or will getting him in a month or so work out?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would wait 5 months. And then I would look around locally to other chicken owners and get an adult roo, as old as possible if you are wanting a roo to protect the flock while free ranging in rough country, they need to be close to a year old to be mature enough. If you can get one that old, his personality will be developed, and you will be able to tell if he is human aggressive. As for integration into the flock, giving a flock of hens a rooster is one of the easiest to make.

There is no advantage to raising a rooster, and roosters are cheap, cause everyone needs to get rid of the extra's. As for hand raising a rooster, you really do not want a PET. It seems counter intuitive, but if you are nice to a rooster, they think you are submissive to them, and often become quite aggressive. Roosters need to be taught that they must always give you space, they need to get out of your way, and they should not sit on your knee, or jump up on you. Roosters can ruin the whole chicken experience, and they can be quite dangerous to little children.

The other point, sometimes even experienced poultiers, (I am talking from experience here

can mistake a rooster for a hen, until he crows) so you might already have one.

Mrs. K

 

[KelsiNS]

Thank you! They're in a coop that is like a semi free range fort. We wanted to start breeding, so he doesnt need to be protective....just...er....productive.

 

[Abronsyth]

I think you should wait until the girls are older, maybe you did end up with a rooster and can't tell yet! Our chicks are four months old and we only just realized one of them is a rooster and not a hen because he only just started crowing, while the other boys had started about 3 weeks ago. Some birds just take a little longer to develop than others, so just wait a bit and see

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

We've had, and many other people have had, super friendly roosters.... Our rooster will let you walk right up to you... Others have roosters that follow you around like dogs... Jump on your shoulder... And then never turn out aggressive.... Because they were taught to think of you kinda like head hen - they love you, but learn to take whatever bull crap you give them if they show signs of aggressive-ness, though many never do.

But anywho, like they said its easy to think a pullet is a roo, and finding one is easy. Another way to get a good roo is when your hens are grown introduce a 10 week or so old roo, usually the 'bottom of the order' one, they usually have good temperaments (and if not the hens teach 'em some) and are old enough to be with the girls, but the girls still able to teach him manners. Easy to intergrate too, since like they said, giving a roo some hens is the easiest way to integrate the flock

 

[Mrs. K]

I like that advice about introducing a much younger roo, and the older hens will teach him some manners. The best roo, I have had, Captain, was a chick I raised by a broody hen in the flock of layer hens.

My last roo, was the same age as my hens, and he was not so nice.

Mrs K