Any reason to keep a roo?

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Well, I can tell you this much. A young hawk got into my coop one day and my MIL told me my 2 rooster were going to town trying to get at him. She actually had to run them out and then her & my son got the hawk out with a broom. Not sure what would have happened it they would have actually caught it. But the main thing is he is constantly watching. As soon as he sees something he sounds the alarm and the girls all go hide. I wouldn't trade my roos for nothing!!

X 2.

Plus, the entertainment value is well worth it. That is, when there aren't predators to watch.

 

[jktrahan]

Quote:
Well, I can tell you this much. A young hawk got into my coop one day and my MIL told me my 2 rooster were going to town trying to get at him. She actually had to run them out and then her & my son got the hawk out with a broom. Not sure what would have happened it they would have actually caught it. But the main thing is he is constantly watching. As soon as he sees something he sounds the alarm and the girls all go hide. I wouldn't trade my roos for nothing!!

Well, I'm sad to say I got my answer today. I came home to a garden full of feathers. Something had dug under the chicken wire surrounding my garden. I buried it a foot deep, but after 2 hurricanes flooding my garden the wire has rusted at ground level in some spots. I found my Polish hen, she probably never even seen it coming. Nothing left but legs, head and a pile of feathers. A quick head count in my chicken tractor and around the rest of my garden let me know that everyone else was OK. Then I noticed there were 2 piles of feathers? One pile surrounding the Polish hen and another smaller pile a few feet away. When I looked closer at the second pile there was no doubt, these feathers were from my roo (Roocifer). I gave him a quick inspection and sure enough, one side of his chest feathers are missing. That's right, I said chest, not tail, not back, but "Chest". It took a few seconds for me to understand, but then it hit me. A predator, came into their home and attacked and killed one of them. This rooster, Bantam at that, went at this predator head on, to protect his flock and probably save the rest of them. That's right, I said "his" flock. THE ROOSTER STAYS!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Well, I can tell you this much. A young hawk got into my coop one day and my MIL told me my 2 rooster were going to town trying to get at him. She actually had to run them out and then her & my son got the hawk out with a broom. Not sure what would have happened it they would have actually caught it. But the main thing is he is constantly watching. As soon as he sees something he sounds the alarm and the girls all go hide. I wouldn't trade my roos for nothing!!

Well, I'm sad to say I got my answer today. I came home to a garden full of feathers. Something had dug under the chicken wire surrounding my garden. I buried it a foot deep, but after 2 hurricanes flooding my garden the wire has rusted at ground level in some spots. I found my Polish hen, she probably never even seen it coming. Nothing left but legs, head and a pile of feathers. A quick head count in my chicken tractor and around the rest of my garden let me know that everyone else was OK. Then I noticed there were 2 piles of feathers? One pile surrounding the Polish hen and another smaller pile a few feet away. When I looked closer at the second pile there was no doubt, these feathers were from my roo (Roocifer). I gave him a quick inspection and sure enough, one side of his chest feathers are missing. That's right, I said chest, not tail, not back, but "Chest". It took a few seconds for me to understand, but then it hit me. A predator, came into their home and attacked and killed one of them. This rooster, Bantam at that, went at this predator head on, to protect his flock and probably save the rest of them. That's right, I said "his" flock. THE ROOSTER STAYS!

Sorry for your loss, but kudos to your roo.

 

[HorizonSon]

I just want to add my own personal experiences

We have had roosters fight off dogs and hawks/falcons on multiple occasions. It is truly a breath-taking thing to see, a 9lb rooster flying five feet into the air, as the hawk (or falcon) swoop down, and swings his spurs at the hawk. Wow; is all I can say... Just the "early warning" sound they give if enough. But they also forage for their ladies; calling them over when they find a bug or other yummy edible.

My flock free ranges all day. I wouldn't have a flock of chickens without a rooster; period.

 

[Qi Chicken]

I agree with the previous posters. Our roo fought off a dog, stands by the coop door and decides when it is safe to let his girls out, makes all kinds of calls to let them know about food and predators. Plus he is very friendly, handsome and adds a whole new dimension to the flock. I really enjoy having a roo.