Considering a rooster. Any advice???

[TBirdsTheWord33]

That's the SECOND time I've posted something twice!!! Anyway, thank you to all who've replied. It's always interesting and thought provoking to get advice from other chicken keepers. This gives me a lot to think about over the next week.

 

[Mrs. K]

My two cents:
I would advise just hens for two - three years. Roosters are easy to come by and easy to integrate into a flock, so there is no rush. An inexperience poultry person often times misses the signs that a rooster is getting aggressive, and roosters generally will attack children first or small adult women.

Another factor, is your set up, will your children and chickens share the same space? If your coop/run is a great distance away, it can often times be done with the right rooster, but if they are sharing a backyard, it can be more difficult. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people. Few people like to be attacked, very few people like to be attacked at eye level.

If you get a rooster, I agree, don't worry so much about the egg color (that can be done later) but rather with your small children attitude and manners is of upmost importance.

People ALWAYS have extra roosters, and generally there is a local poultry club, ask your county extension agent for help finding one, or check the feed store. Disease is a real concern, but not impossible to get around.

You asked for advice, mine is wait for the rooster.

Mrs K

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Thank you! Since I've been going back and forth on this decision (admittedly, MANY times in the same day

), I think it would be best for me to wait awhile. For now, I'll just enjoy our girls. I'll know when it's the right time for a rooster, and when that time comes, I'll do my very best to get a really NICE one.

I realize that lots of people end up with them by accident, which happened to us this spring with some Easter Eggers we got from a farm store. Thankfully, some local breeders took our 2 boys as a replacement for their current rooster. This last order is coming from a hatchery that we've done business with several times over the last 6 1/2 months. Out of the 21 girls we ordered from them, we have...21 girls!!!

I feel blessed!