Cockrel behavior ok?

[Oofdah]

I have a 4 month old cockrel. I had 4 of them and ate 3. lol They're pretty good in the smoker. Anyway, I kept him because he was prettiest, and I do like the crowing. (that farm sound i like)
My chickens (15 hens and the one Cockrel) live in a fenced 1/2 acre where their coops are. I am mostly grass, only a couple trees.
I have 5.5 acres and coyotes sometimes pass by, so I kept this one Cockrel in case they are useful for protection from predators. I have no intention on hatching eggs, so fertilization is not important to me.

I am trying to decipher his behaviors. I don't know if he will be aggressive or not. I know their hormones are high right now at this age. So far, he does a lot of crowing. He's mounted a few hens that I noticed. He grabs them and gets on top. I havent noticed any injuries or missing feathers.

He follows me. I go down to the horses in the morning and he follows me. FAR! Like 300 feet away from the hens. Making that growling/purring sound the entire time. Its hilarious too because I will be in the barn getting hay and I hear his grumbling coming closer.... and closer... and then.. he's there! He does nothing. He just shows up and follows me all over the property. He seemed to come after me at one point while I was walking back to the yard. I heard flapping and felt a feather on my leg and then saw him tumbling to the side like a complete clutz.

He grumbles constantly when I'm out there. When I'm near the hens he seems peaceful. He doesnt charge or flare his neck at me. I have given the chickens treats and he will pick the treats up and give them to the hens.

Do you think he will be a good rooster? Or is he already showing too many signs that he will be in the smoker soon also?

 

[ClickityChick123]

Those sound like the start of aggressive behaviors to me. Don't let it get worse, if he is following you around just push him away with a stick or something. Let him know your the boss and that he shouldn't mess with you. I know someone who had a rooster that would attack everyone (even once me) and they literally had a rake that they would hit him with if they needed to, but he did become dinner soon enough.

 

[Oofdah]

Those sound like the start of aggressive behaviors to me. Don't let it get worse, if he is following you around just push him away with a stick or something. Let him know your the boss and that he shouldn't mess with you. I know someone who had a rooster that would attack everyone (even once me) and they literally had a rake that they would hit him with if they needed to, but he did become dinner soon enough.

oh ok. I will try to use a broom to get him back in line. I thought I would try the "lets be friends" route. I liked the idea of having a rooster, but if that just makes it worse then forget it. I have no need of his "services" so either he's nice or he's browned with a nice smoke ring.

 

[nuthatched]

Cull, he's useless for protection and showing bad behavior towards you and his girls.

 

[Oofdah]

Cull, he's useless for protection and showing bad behavior towards you and his girls.

I kinda figured that would be the answer. I literally only kept him because I thought he might deter predators, but if he's useless for that, then he's useless all around. Thanks!

 

[redinator]

I have a 4 month old cockrel. I had 4 of them and ate 3. lol They're pretty good in the smoker. Anyway, I kept him because he was prettiest, and I do like the crowing. (that farm sound i like)
My chickens (15 hens and the one Cockrel) live in a fenced 1/2 acre where their coops are. I am mostly grass, only a couple trees.
I have 5.5 acres and coyotes sometimes pass by, so I kept this one Cockrel in case they are useful for protection from predators. I have no intention on hatching eggs, so fertilization is not important to me.

I am trying to decipher his behaviors. I don't know if he will be aggressive or not. I know their hormones are high right now at this age. So far, he does a lot of crowing. He's mounted a few hens that I noticed. He grabs them and gets on top. I havent noticed any injuries or missing feathers.

He follows me. I go down to the horses in the morning and he follows me. FAR! Like 300 feet away from the hens. Making that growling/purring sound the entire time. Its hilarious too because I will be in the barn getting hay and I hear his grumbling coming closer.... and closer... and then.. he's there! He does nothing. He just shows up and follows me all over the property. He seemed to come after me at one point while I was walking back to the yard. I heard flapping and felt a feather on my leg and then saw him tumbling to the side like a complete clutz.

He grumbles constantly when I'm out there. When I'm near the hens he seems peaceful. He doesnt charge or flare his neck at me. I have given the chickens treats and he will pick the treats up and give them to the hens.

Do you think he will be a good rooster? Or is he already showing too many signs that he will be in the smoker soon also?

Since he growls when you're moving away from the flock and happy when you're with them it seems to me he's guarding/herding you which might sound like a good thing, but it isn't. He sees you as a flock member, not a keeper. Also if he's busy following you around he's not protecting the flock, so he's not performing the sole duty you kept him for. I'd say sell him or send him to freezer camp.

 

[FrostRanger]

I kinda figured that would be the answer. I literally only kept him because I thought he might deter predators, but if he's useless for that, then he's useless all around. Thanks!

A rooster has absolutely no chance against a hungry coyote, most a rooster will usually do against a predator of any kind is sound the alarm so the girls can hide, and if there's no rooster the head hen will usually take up that job. The danger an aggressive rooster poses isn't worth the minimal predator protection he offers. A better solution is to instead focus on predator proofing their coop and run so a coyote can't get in, that'll keep them safe better than a rooster

Of course if you want a rooster, a good rooster is a joy to have around, but you need to not keep a bad one around so you have a spot for a good one

 

[Oofdah]

Since he growls when you're moving away from the flock and happy when you're with them it seems to me he's guarding/herding you which might sound like a good thing, but it isn't. He sees you as a flock member, not a keeper. Also if he's busy following you around he's not protecting the flock, so he's not performing the sole duty you kept him for. I'd say sell him or send him to freezer camp.

well now isnt that fascinating? Would explain why he follows me so far. Trying to get me back to the coop? I already have a husband trying to keep me in the kitchen, I dont need this from a rooster too. lol

 

[Oofdah]

A rooster has absolutely no chance against a hungry coyote, most a rooster will usually do against a predator of any kind is sound the alarm so the girls can hide, and if there's no rooster the head hen will usually take up that job. The danger an aggressive rooster poses isn't worth the minimal predator protection he offers. A better solution is to instead focus on predator proofing their coop and run so a coyote can't get in, that'll keep them safe better than a rooster

Of course if you want a rooster, a good rooster is a joy to have around, but you need to not keep a bad one around so you have a spot for a good one

very good point. i do have a hen that i know will take his place. She's a firecracker.

 

[redinator]

well now isnt that fascinating? Would explain why he follows me so far. Trying to get me back to the coop? I already have a husband trying to keep me in the kitchen, I dont need this from a rooster too. lol

I'm no expert on cockerels, but I have read a few threads since I have three (yes three) on behaviors to watch for and this was a repeated warning sign in a few.