Asking Y'all Your Opinions On Roosters

[teach1rusl]

I tried a rooster for a month. I think he probably would have ended up being a really good rooster eventually, but I wasn't going to wait it out. He was simply to rough on the girls (lots of feather loss on one, an occasional bloody comb on another who wouldn't submit). Two hens seemed to do well with him, two didn't, and I rarely saw him take on the lead hen. He was about 9 months old and very hormonal, and I only had five hens, so I'm sure that was part of the problem. I will say that he was very protective of the girls. However, my lead hen acts in a similar fashion with warning sounds, and my girls always seek cover when hawks are nearby. So it's not like hens will just sit around like...well...like sitting ducks (lol) when predators are nearby. Unless she ends up with a very gentle, gentlemanly rooster, she may end up needing chicken saddles for her hens, since she only has six.

 

[EggSpudition]

I have one rooster-- and was reluctant to keep him. It was his mate I wanted (rosecomb hen). Zoning laws and my own worry about keeping my 3month old pullets safe had prevented me from getting one before. I've noticed that because of his size that the other pullet hens aren't intimidated at all. He keeps his crowing to the sound of a childs cough and he does have his pick of his rosecomb hen and a smaller silkie who doesn't seem to mind.

I'm gonna keep him.. besides he's awful handsome!

 

[WhetzelMomma]

I have a mutt Rooster. I got him to help keep the girls safe while they're out free ranging. If I didn't want him for the added protection, and he wasn't doing a good job at that, I wouldn't have him. He's loud, and crows ALL the time. So far, I'm able to keep him penned until I'm ready to get up, and he doesn't bother me too much. He's also protective of the girls, but not aggressive with any of the family. My solution, if your friend doesn't need the roo for protection of her flock is to WAIT. When one of her hens goes broody, she can get fertile eggs, and hatch them. Chances are good that there'll be a roo or two in the batch, and maybe she can keep one of them. By that time, she'll know more about her flock, and whether or not she'll want the added noise.