Can I Keep A Rooster Separate From My Flock For Breeding Purposes?

[_-Captain BRM-_]

I would like to hatch chicks but roosters can be aggressive to both people and their hens so I don’t want to keep it in the flock. Can it live in a separate pen? I was also wondering if drakes can be kept separate from their hens. I know that they are extremely aggressive when mating and I definitely don’t want that. Will they still mate if I put them to together for a bit? Thanks, Guys!

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

I would like to hatch chicks but roosters can be aggressive to both people and their hens so I don’t want to keep it in the flock. Can it live in a separate pen? I was also wondering if drakes can be kept separate from their hens. I know that they are extremely aggressive when mating and I definitely don’t want that. Will they still mate if I put them to together for a bit? Thanks, Guys!

Hi! If you have a rooster you can separate him, just maybe give him 2 or more hens!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

-It sounds like you don't currently have a rooster, is this the case?
-How many hens do you currently have?
-What breeds?
-Do they free range?

You're more likely to have a friendly rooster if one of the breed characteristics is friendliness. You are also more likely to have a friendly rooster when it was raised by a hen, and when there is only one rooster in the flock. A YOUNG rooster may over mate hens, and it is better if you have at least five to eight hens. You could always be on the hunt for people giving away roosters on local livestock feeds and BYC state threads. Find your states thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

Chickens are vary social creatures, roosters included. Your rooster would be very unhappy and probably more prone to aggression (saying this from experience) if you separated him while his ladies got to free range or otherwise be apart from him.

You could always order some hatching eggs if that's all you're wanting. If that's the case, you may wind up with a very friendly rooster and you won't need to hunt for one! Just have a backup plan for getting rid of any extra roosters. It is very difficult to give away roosters, it's a very real possibility that you will have to dispatch a rooster when hatching your own.

 

[Mrs. K]

Hatching is fun, BUT HALF THE chicks will be roosters. What are you going to do with them? You seem already a little nervous about having a rooster or drake. I have never had drakes, but a rooster in a flock is most generally a pretty nice bird.

However, sometimes you get a rotten rooster, that is true. But keeping a rooster away from a flock will have no influence on his behavior. Keeping him away from the hens won't keep him nice, and it won't make him mean. It will just be a lot of frustration for you, as he is going to try and get with the girls every chance he can.

Do answer the hatching question, before you hatch, as this is a tough part of keeping chickens for a lot of people.
Mrs K

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

It would be best if the rooster had flockmates, which could either be hens or other roosters. Keeping him separate won’t really impact human aggressiveness.