Benefits to a Roo?

[Lollipop]

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I agree with centrarchid. The bird pictured looks like a cockeral to me, although it`s hard to tell from the pic. As far as keeping the girls together, yes he will, to a large extent. As for wandering into the neighboring areas, that all depends in the individual. I love roosters be without them.........Pop

 

[jenni22776rn]

Introducing a adult Roo to the flock of teenagers may be hard...he may be rough in them and they will not be ready for laying. If you think one of yours is a roo...he will show himself soon..If you can...post some pictures of his back and top of his comb..others may be able to tell if he is a roo or not based on the feathering...saddle feathers I think they call them(I know I am not good at sexing). I introduced a teenager roo to my adult hens and they gave him a run for his money..but now they love him. I have a Buff orpington roo and I love his temperment but I know there are alot of good breed for roosters..it depends on what you are looking for...as far as where...craiglist is a good place but look at mabye in your local area for swaps or local farmers...if you post on this forum for anybody else in your area, they may be able to assist you to a good place to get a good rooster..I was able to get my three silkies from this forum! That one you think looks like a roo..he has red comb and looks like a roo...but like I said I am no good at sexing!

 

[julnjake]

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I do? When are they adults? How/when will I know?

 

[Alice EG]

No remote possibility about it... that dark bird in your photo is a cockerel; the colors are pretty much a dead give away.

 

[jenni22776rn]

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I do? When are they adults? How/when will I know?

If he is mounting the hens..then you have a cockerel. He may not start crowing for a while.....they are considered cockerels until they are 1 year old...

 

[centrarchid]

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I do? When are they adults? How/when will I know?

I am surprized he is not already making first attempts at crowing already. He probably already is but only does it a couple times a day. Based on appearance, his testosterone is going go soon and for a while (2 or 3 months) he will be a bit rough on pullets but no lasting damage to be expected. By time he is 8 months old he should begin to behave like a proper rooster and court hens before having his way. By October he should be what you want but further maturation will occur through winter.

 

[JodyJo]

I have 16 pullets, hens now (they are laying eggs finally!) I have 2 roos...they say 1 to every 10 girls...but one will be just fine...you already have one, so one problem solved!

I think everyone has covered the whys....I am so glad I have mine. I live in a rural area with lots of hawks, eagles etc...they warn of danger etc...call to food, stop fights...

If you allow the hens to sit on fertilized eggs, they will take care of the babies...if you aren't ready for babies, just collect all the eggs. If a hen is broody (meaning she is sitting with a purpose!), just nudge her aside, you will know, she will peck at you and get angry....once the eggs lose the heat source, they will stop developing, they can be eaten like all others. It takes around 22 days to get a baby chick.

Good luck!

 

[pooh731]

Our EE roo 'mellow' protects our EE hen, our RIR hen, but helps chase our BSL hen from time to time

 

[julnjake]

Centrachid we are building a new coop & rebuilding our barn so we are out with the chickens literally from dusk to dawn, not a single crow.

 

[centrarchid]

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Wing and incoming sicle feathers on tail all say rooster. He may just be a late bloomer in respect to behavior. Let him see himself in mirror. It might rile him up enough to crow a little later.