Cockerel or Pullet...BR or BSL

[MrsAuberry00]

What's wrong with having a roo?

We just don't want any breeding. We basically got into this for the eggs, but this is our first time with chickens, so we probably don't know all the ins and outs of it. And who knows if he'll be a good one or a butthole. Regardless, we'll have him until mid-July at least since the flock needs to be wormed again next week and I want to keep him around until we hit the 14 day "don't use the eggs" period after the second worming. Yes, I'm aware that a cockerel won't lay, but I still just want to keep him around until I know everyone is worm free. That will also give us more time to listen for a crow.

 

[speckledhen]

We just don't want any breeding. We basically got into this for the eggs, but this is our first time with chickens, so we probably don't know all the ins and outs of it. And who knows if he'll be a good one or a butthole. Regardless, we'll have him until mid-July at least since the flock needs to be wormed again next week and I want to keep him around until we hit the 14 day "don't use the eggs" period after the second worming. Yes, I'm aware that a cockerel won't lay, but I still just want to keep him around until I know everyone is worm free. That will also give us more time to listen for a crow.

Oh, you will hear one, trust me, though he may not crow for a long time. They can crow at only a few days old (yes, DAYS!) or be almost a year old, it's so individual.

You certainly don't need to keep a male if you aren't ready for that dynamic in the flock. I love my roosters, who are very sweet (I won't keep them if they aren't, nor will I breed from them if they aren't), but they have their own special considerations when you keep a rooster. Maybe later on down the line, you'll want one.

 

[MrsAuberry00]

Oh, you will hear one, trust me, though he may not crow for a long time. They can crow at only a few days old (yes, DAYS!) or be almost a year old, it's so individual.

You certainly don't need to keep a male if you aren't ready for that dynamic in the flock. I love my roosters, who are very sweet (I won't keep them if they aren't, nor will I breed from them if they aren't), but they have their own special considerations when you keep a rooster. Maybe later on down the line, you'll want one.

I've been reading a lot of pro and con rooster articles on here and I think now, we're leaning towards keeping him around provided he's not some murderous fiend. LOL Just because an egg gets fertilized doesn't mean we'll have chicks provided they aren't brooded or incubated, so what does it matter?

 

[speckledhen]

I've been reading a lot of pro and con rooster articles on here and I think now, we're leaning towards keeping him around provided he's not some murderous fiend. LOL Just because an egg gets fertilized doesn't mean we'll have chicks provided they aren't brooded or incubated, so what does it matter?

No, an egg must be incubated to grow a chick. You can't tell the difference in taste between the fertilized and unfertilized eggs.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Speckledhen gave you some great advice. Nothing really left for me to say. Hope all goes well!