Considering a rooster. Any advice???

[TBirdsTheWord33]

I've been keeping chickens for 6 1/2 months and never considered having a rooster, mainly for the sake of my toddler and the little one who's "cooking." In just over a week, I will pick up my last small order of female chicks before I close my flock over Avian Influenza concerns (although my state hasn't had any confirmed cases yet). I am strongly in favor of self-sufficiency, and due to the potential effects of the AI outbreak on egg and meat prices, I now find the idea of having a sustainable flock VERY appealing.

To that end, I am thinking about adding a Blue Ameraucana male chick to my order. I am considering this breed because 1) I like colored eggs and would expect him to produce some nice colored egg layers from my girls (and black sex-links from my BRs); and 2) I think he would be large enough to produce offspring suitable for meat purposes, especially from my heavy girls.

As stated, I would like to have a sustainable flock, but keeping my little ones safe is of utmost importance. Should I shelf the idea of a rooster until my kids are older? Keep him in separate living quarters? Leave him with the girls and focus on behavioral training and spur trimming? I've looked into various options and would appreciate some advice, as I am still new to chicken keeping and have MUCH to learn. Thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

I have always had roosters, and wouldn't be without. BUT I'm very careful to keep only polite males, and have given up on trying to 'retrain' idiot human aggressive cockrels! Having small children, that applies in spades. If you are buying from a private breeder, question about behaviors in their flock; do they only breed from polite birds? Any issues with aggression? You won't get any such information from a hatchery, but individual differences still trump everything else. Consider getting at least three cockrels, so you can pick the best and have choices. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Your slightly older birds will help socialize the new boys too. Mary

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Thank you so much! I think your idea of getting several boys and choosing a favorite or two makes sense. Now to convince my husband to buy 3 boys at $14 each...wish me luck!!!

 

[Percheron chick]

Personally, I would skip the rooster right now. You won't "need" him nor will he be ready until next spring. You will be feeding 3 extra mouths growing them out. You've got plenty on your plate right now. Early next year start putting out feelers for an older (2+ year old) rooster. You will know what you are getting and he'll be through the adolescent nonsense. And he'll probably be free.

 

[Folly's place]

That's also true, although I do like to raise my own, and never bring in outside older birds, to protect my flock from disease as much as possible. Mary

 

[skunknchatter]

I would suggest finding an easy going breed for your rooster. I've had several roosters and none have ever been so nice as my Buff Orpington roosters. One good kick to prove that you are in charge is all it ever took to train a BO Roo at my house. The great thing about an established rooster is he will usually keep any other roosters in line. Hatching your own chicks you'll get a mix of male and female so there might be a time when you have 4-5 young roosters in your coop. A good rooster will keep the youngsters in line until you can get rid of them (be it the crock pot or giving them away). I had my first BO rooster before my son was born. When my son was able to toddle around the back yard that rooster NEVER attacked my son even if he went in the coop with my hens and chased them. Sadly, that rooster died early this year (he was almost 9!). I was sad to lose him but I had kept his son (the only chick my broody hen ever hatched on her own) who has the same mellow manner as his dad did. I would never be without a rooster after having one for the last 9 years. The crowing took about a week to get used to is all.

 

[brittfish]

I just got a rooster from someone on Craigslist that had 7! Quarantined him for a month he is 1 day younger than my females but full grown. Introduced them all a couple weeks ago and it's going great. He's docile and fits right in. The hens are more at ease with a rooster and he's so entertaining. What's one more? I would recommend rescuing an adult. You can see his temperament and dont have to worry about the hens picking on him. They all turn 1 year old at the end of the month. Your kids will enjoy hearing and seeing him make his crazy noises. I had an EE rooster that sadly passed away a few months ago he was so sweet anf cool and now the new guy is a buff orpington cross.

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Quote:
I feel the same way about bringing in birds from other backyard flocks, especially now with AI spreading.

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Quote:
I feel the same way about bringing in birds from other backyard flocks, especially now with AI spreading.