Bantam rooster protecting the flock?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Being young he probably won't offer much protection initially and will probably get harassed by your hens. Plus side is he might learns some respect for your girls and have to earn theirs.

 

[Leigti]

He would be the smallest chicken. So I know he probably won't harass them. Not interested in hatching any eggs. I've never had a rooster so I know nothing about integrating them etc. what I just put him out there with them and let them all work it out?
I may look into other options also. Somebody said pinwheels or CDs or fishing line can help. I guess this little hock sat on the 6 foot fence for a while then drop down into the yard and walked around. But right now the chickens are all bigger than he is.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You should actually quarantine any new chickens, unless you are willing to risk bringing in diseases, even with quarantine he could be carrying something your birds aren't used to and he could make them sick. Roosters sometimes turn aggressive towards their keepers, so that's always a possibility too. It might be easier to do some stuff in your yard to deter hawks. Not all hawks are willing, or wanting to eat chickens, so it could be something like a sparrow hawk, those I like.

 

[Leigti]

You should actually quarantine any new chickens, unless you are willing to risk bringing in diseases, even with quarantine he could be carrying something your birds aren't used to and he could make them sick. Roosters sometimes turn aggressive towards their keepers, so that's always a possibility too. It might be easier to do some stuff in your yard to deter hawks. Not all hawks are willing, or wanting to eat chickens, so it could be something like a sparrow hawk, those I like.

Yeah, it's beginning to sound like it would be easier to skip the rooster idea. I have no idea what kind of talk it is. I think my neighbor said he got a video of it with his phone. I'll look up sparrowhawk and see if that's what it was.

 

[member 447614]

I have Chinese Pekin Bantams(aka Cochin Bantams). My Rooster is a great flock protector. He alerts them to danger, and once as a fox was chasing one of my hens, my rooster flanked the fox, and scared the crap out of it and chased it off while spuring, and pecking its backside. My LGD dog was in the vet getting some stitches from a battle with three coyoties(yes my dog killed all three). My rooster showed his metal while my dog was not their to protect them.

 

[dekel18042]

I have both large roosters and a three year old English Game bantam rooster (my avator) with my flock. Recently I heard the roosters' warning cry and I and a dog went running out just in time to see hens racing for cover, their covered runs, a huge lilac bush and azalea bushes, followed and shephered by the large roosters.
Suddenly a large hawk swooped down between two of the coops some hens had hidden in. The small bantam rose into the air about three feet to meet him and the hawk pulled up and away. It was as if the roosters were working in conjunction with each other.
This bantam is so small his name is The Mouseketeer.
I've heard some people on this list complain about aggressive bantam roosters but I had bantams as pets as a child, not sure of the breed, just bantams, and now I have Old English Game and I have never had an aggressive bantam rooster.
They have big attitudes and personalities but have never been people aggressive. If you want a flock alarm clock and aren't interested in breeding, there is no reason to not try a bantam rooster.

 

[Adrisducks]

Hi Chixcoop
I had an amazing silkie/bantam cochin mix rooster. He was gentle to his girls, would never eat treats because he gave them all away and he was an amazing protector. I lost him last month to a hawk or owl. I'm still so broken about losing him. He gave his life for his girls. No one was hurt because of him. I think they do a wonderful job. Every rooster is different with different personalities and skills.

 

[BDutch]

Bantams are too small and those I have observed do not seem to have the appropriate behavior repertoire needed. Silkies and Polish have visual impairments and the former has serious physical limitations stemming from feathering.

The size is not so important imo.

I had two beautiful bantam roosters. A small Dutch (only 700 grams) and a Millefleur de Tournaisis. They don't have ornamental fluffy heads and did sound the alarm whenever there was the slightest threat. With 16 weeks they are too young for a proper job. From 20 weeks they start to become protective.

The Dutch Cockerel was getting to attack me too if dinner was served. Protecting the food for his girls. But was easy to train to behave.

The Tournaisis I had was more difficult. Less social more flighly. Always had to be carefull he didn't walk up behind me to attack my legs. He was arrogant and had to go.

Every rooster and every breed is a bit different. But the hobby farmer where I bought my Dutch was happy with my Dutch male I returned and the male offspring a year later. He mainly sold leghorn hybrids (sexed) at 16-20 weeks old and gave the much smaller Dutch as a present to the buyers that could have a rooster. He got many reactions that the roosters did wel.

I think a rooster and good hiding places make a difference if you want to free range your stock. If you have a lots of hawks a camouflage or survival netting is an extra option. Sparrow hawks look the same as a hawk. But is a lot smaller and take smaller birds. A pigeon or small bantam it about the max she takes up in the sky.