Castrating a Rooster

[Mrs. K]

TO the OP - if you don't want fertilized eggs and don't want crowing, have a hen only flock!

 

[Abingham]

TO the OP - if you don't want fertilized eggs and don't want crowing, have a hen only flock!

I was given a straight run and didn’t want to cull the rooster

 

[leighks]

I was given a straight run and didn’t want to cull the rooster

Not sure if this is true or not, but when I was reading about caponizing roosters online I read on several different sites that if even the smallest piece of tissue is left behind it will still produce testrone and will make the surgery unsuccessful. Perhaps that’s what happened with yours.

On another note, I did try the hormone implant on my roo when he was a little over a year and it wasn’t very successful. He still mounts the hens quite a bit and his aggression hasn’t decreased significantly. At some point I will post my experience in more detail.

 

[aart]

TO the OP - if you don't want fertilized eggs and don't want crowing, have a hen only flock!

I was given a straight run and didn’t want to cull the rooster

You're not the OP (Original Poster)

 

[Backyard Bruce]

This is our first flock. My friend has a rooster that attacks her-he is older than mine and of a different breed. I have little kids and did not want my rooster to turn on them like her rooster did. With dogs, you can often prevent aggressive behavior if you castrate before their hormonal behaviors become habit. I was hoping castrating the rooster would do the same. It’s hard to tell for sure, though, his caponizing could have rendered him a slip, but he is supposedly a gentle breed to begin with. I didn’t want to take the chance and I didn’t want to cull him for being himself. He is not people-aggressive, and he does not attack the hens he just wants to bump uglies and they aren’t having it! Slip being stated, I was present for the surgery and it appeared everything was removed.

I understand and hope that it is successful in that regard.

I'm a first time flock owner as well and had a straight run of polish chicks, three of which were cockerels. I tried to keep all three but as it turned out it just wasn't working too well with eight hens, I culled two and am now left with what I believe to be the best genetically and best temperament(fingers crossed).

Good luck with your new flock and welcome to the forum.