Behaviorally challenged cockerel

[keesmom]

The birds I hatch tend to be complete spazzes from about 3 weeks of age until they get close to maturity. Seems their brains finally start to work then. I have a mixed free range flock and a separate breeder flock. The Favs in the mixed flock aren't at the top of the heap but they aren't all hiding in the bushes away from the others either. They hold their own. Granted I don't have any reds or game types in the flock but we have a bunch of different breeds.

The males I've had in the past have generally in the middle of the road temperament wise. I've had a small number that have been overly aggressive, a very few that were too submissive. Most have acted like you would expect a rooster of any other breed in a flock to behave.

However my Favs aren't hatchery stock. Not sure how much of a difference that makes.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Of my 18 bird flock, I have 10 roosters. I had previously joked about starting a rooster sanctuary to piss off my neighbors. Clearly, I shouldn't have done that.

Hulk on Steroids, the cockerel, is the one that bit me. He is penned up and has been since Saturday. I thought a timeout would do him some good as he was being a total d-bag to the other chickens, but it hasn't. If anything, seclusion has made it worse. Up until last week, he would climb into my lap at roost time and purr.

I think I messed up the flock when I brought home three birds. They were supposed to be hens, but once I got them home and compared to my gang, it was clear only one was a hen. I don't know if chickens can bond like dogs do, but these three are inseparable. Maybe that's because they're in a new situation. That's a discussion for another day.

Anyway...
The rooster, though, has turned into a real gem. He previously had the personality of a rabid badger, but we worked our shit out. Anytime he gave me shit, I'd snatch him up, tuck him under my arm and do chicken chores until he calmed down. When I set him down, I marched him around and out of his territory.

The rooster was easier to correct than this damned cockerel. He's pretty, but beyond that, he doesn't have any value - at this moment. I keep hoping he'll get his hormones in check and turn into a good little rooster. I don't know how likely that is. Probably not very. Maybe I can give him some tofu and hope the estrogen balances out his testosterone. If only it worked like that....

The flock has been much more peaceful without Hulk on Steroids. There's very little fighting among it now. Not a single cockerel is challenging the rooster. It's likely a temporary situation, though, once the hens hit maturity.

I had no intention of breeding, but a Silkie-Fave cross could be pretty. Particularly with the damned cockerel as the Dad. I can't get rid of the other cockerels; they have such sweet personalities and two have them have potential to be a good rooster. They could go together in the bachelor pad if I can find a different place for Hulk on Steroids.

Getting rid of Hulk on Steroids shouldn't be as complicated as I'm making it, but I hate the idea of him being dinner. What I hate the most is that fact I'd be making him somebody elses problem. I know a woman that might take him. She has a 55 acre farm and frequently takes excess roosters as breeding stock. He'd get his own group of hens and a small coop. Though, maybe that's just something she tells people like me. LOL.

As for the four Faverolle roos, I don't think they're going to be pushovers. At four-ish weeks, one has stood up to a cat and another to one of the more docile cockerels. I think with early introduction and sufficient time, my current cockerels would accept them without too much fighting. If they're raised together it shouldn't be too brutal.

As challenging as keeping chickens has been, I'm having a blast.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine were hatchery stock, very good looking and sweet birds, but meek. I'm afraid that the OP needs to move many roosters on, and not ask where they are going. As you've said, most male chickens belong in the pot! In the jungle, only a few cocks would have offspring, and most would become chicken dinner for someone. Of my seventeen May chicks, ten are cockerels, and only two are staying. That's eight who will move elsewhere, including the freezer. Mary

 

[Chickassan]

I've no idea if mine are hatchery stock or not. They were eggs bought from Mpc so I'm assuming "maybe? " I'm a slow, peaceful kind of person so I'm enjoying that aspect of faverolles, but the fact that the low ranking ameraucana hen is running them like scalded dogs I'm not enjoying. Hopefully pushing out some eggs will put some powder in their pistols.