Adding a rooster?

[JanetRN1]

A neighbor has offered a 5 month old rooster from her flock to ours (I have 6 month old girls). But I don’t want babies.
I know the benefits of having a rooster and would love to take him, but how do I prevent chicks?? She says to collect eggs everyday, but how do I know which are fertilized? What about eating them? Do I find out when I crack it?
I’m new to chickens and I’m not ready to get into all that. But I also don’t know anything about having a rooster.
Any advice?

 

[JanetRN1]

That should have read “one month old girls”

 

[WingItRanch]

Ohhh boy. First of all, a 5 month old male is a cockerel, not a rooster. And I'm practically screaming "please don't do it!!!"

Reasons: at 5 months old, his hormones will be raging and your girls are way too young at only 4 weeks old. He'll chase them and possibly hurt them.

Also, the ratio. Everyone has different opinions but I personally would have no less than 10 females to 1 male. With only 6, he could overmate and, once again, hurt them.

Cockerels / Roosters are not at all necessary unless you want babies. Many people recommend going with no rooster for beginners because they can be so troublesome (and can be human aggresive -especially during the puberty stage). To me, it sounds like your neighbor is trying to pawn off an unwanted male. Save yourself the trouble and say thanks but no thanks.

I will answer your other questions... there's no difference in taste or anything between a fertilized vs non fertilized egg. It takes weeks to hatch an egg and it would require a broody hen or an incubator with the correct humidity and temp.

 

[MysteryChicken]

A neighbor has offered a 5 month old rooster from her flock to ours (I have 6 month old girls). But I don’t want babies.
I know the benefits of having a rooster and would love to take him, but how do I prevent chicks?? She says to collect eggs everyday, but how do I know which are fertilized? What about eating them? Do I find out when I crack it?
I’m new to chickens and I’m not ready to get into all that. But I also don’t know anything about having a rooster.
Any advice?

Eating fertilized eggs is no different then eating an unfertilized egg.

If you don't want chicks, collect eggs everyday after they're laid. Also, if you don't want accidental chicks, don't get broody breeds, or even a Cockerel/rooster.

Why don't you want chicks?

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

A neighbor has offered a 5 month old rooster from her flock to ours (I have 6 month old girls). But I don’t want babies.
I know the benefits of having a rooster and would love to take him, but how do I prevent chicks?? She says to collect eggs everyday, but how do I know which are fertilized? What about eating them? Do I find out when I crack it?
I’m new to chickens and I’m not ready to get into all that. But I also don’t know anything about having a rooster.
Any advice?

Eggs won’t hatch without incubation. There’s really no difference between fertile & infertile eggs unless you stick them in an incubator or you have a hen that goes broody. I’ve heard of eggs that get left in the coop in really hot summer days might start to develop, but if you collect eggs daily that shouldn’t be an issue.

I’d be more concerned about the age difference right now between your girls and the cockerel. I would suggest waiting to introduce them until they’re closer in size.

 

[JanetRN1]

Great!
So would it be ok to let the neighbor keep the rooster until the girls are bigger?

 

[JanetRN1]

Eating fertilized eggs is no different then eating an unfertilized egg.

If you don't want chicks, collect eggs everyday after they're laid. Also, if you don't want accidental chicks, don't get broody breeds, or even a Cockerel/rooster.

Why don't you want chicks?

We’re going to build a more permanent and bigger coop/run in the spring, so it’s an accommodation thing. And I don’t want to get overwhelmed. I’m just getting started with chickens—I want to be sure I know what I’m doing with the 6 before I add on

 

[CoopBoots]

How do I prevent chicks?? -- don't let a pullet or hen sit; collect eggs daily and make sure you train them where to lay so no secret nests occur.

How do I know which are fertilized?--You can guess by looking for a bulls-eye on the egg yolk once opened, or incubate a few days before opening to check. Have to open them to be sure. But if your boy is healthy, and you only have six girls, it's probably every egg or nearly so.

What about eating them? -- no nutritional difference, or really any visible difference, unless you go looking for that bulls-eye mark. Even then it's not noticeable in any way.

I’m new to chickens and I’m not ready to get into all that. -- Understandable! If you just want to learn hens first, that's probably the easiest way to learn without worrying about what kind of eggs you have.

But I also don’t know anything about having a rooster. -- A boy will change your flock dynamics. He's the boss, and your hens may look to him more than you. He may also see you as competition or a predatory threat, which will prompt him to attack. He may crow a great deal. He may "tread" your hens too roughly when mating and hurt them. He may not be a good lover and your hens will be distressed, chased, and forcibly mated. These things are sometimes quite unpleasant. My advice is this: Don't ever get a cockerel or rooster that you won't be able to get rid of later. They can be the best, or worst, thing to happen to your flock. So much depends on his temperament.

That said, my boys are almost my favorite thing about chickens! But I have been willing to weed through a lot of candidates to have roosters that treat my girls and me well.

 

[JanetRN1]

That was a great response! Thank you so much!
We’re going to meet the rooster this weekend. Lots to consider, but really…I’m not sure I’m ready.
Thank you for the reassurance and encouragement!

 

[HodgesHappyHens]

For another side to the rooster discussion. I just dispatched my cockerel tonight because I have what lawyers call an attractive nuisance. I have several small neighborhood children (4-12 yrs.) who like to come over and visit/feed my flock. Recently this young buck has been getting aggressive towards family members and has charged one of the older kids at the gate where the children have the best view. I am sad that I had to do this and my neighbors all mentioned how much they love the crowing but I can’t be at the gate every moment that someone is stopping by to see the flock. nor do I want to be responsible for someone getting attacked and hurt.