Considering getting a rooster

[juliawitt]

Had two roosters before. Wasn't a good experience. However, we want to be selfsustaining so we are considering getting one rooster. We have 16 girls and will be adding 4 more pullets with the one rooster. We want an even tempered rooster who will be good to the girls. I have a mixed flock of doms, silver laced W and golden laced W with 4 timid Orps. I was thinking an Orp rooster. Any thoughts?

 

[7L Farm]

I've got a good cockerel. He's a RIR . Most people at least here on BYC say RIR Roo's are over aggressive. Who knows I'm around my Roo alot & he is good around people & takes good care of his 11 girlfriends & the eggs are fertile. So, its either luck of the draw are me intermingling with the flock .I do like having him around . He protects them & helps the girls find food.

 

[BorderKelpie]

I have a pretty barnyard mix roo that would love to adopt you as his family.

He's gentle and sweet and wants to move in with you.

Where do you live?

Harold loves you already.

lol
(I'm serious, he needs a home. I can't stand the idea of eating a gentle rooster)

 

[featherz]

So far I really like my Cochin roo. He isn't cuddly but isn't people aggressive and does all the proper rooster stuff for his ladies. He's HUGE tho and loves to crow about his manly man self.

 

[ralleia]

I've had very negative experiences with Orpington roos. They were aggressive to each other, and the one I ended up keeping was so rough on the hens that they ended up with bare backs, torn feathers from their heads, and infection from wounds on their backs. Then the rooster (BO) got human-aggressive, too. After he spurred me in the thigh while I was carrying the baby on a carrier on my back, he became chicken stew. I won't try a BO rooster again.

The most consistently gentlemanly roosters that I've experienced have been black Australorps. They were gentle and protective to the hens, and never displayed an ounce of aggression to humans. The breed also has a lot of great qualities for a self-sufficiency scenario: the hens are solid producers of eggs, the hens have a high tendency to get broody and are great mothers. I've also been able to stick day-old chicks that I've bought via mail-order under a hen that's been broody for a while, with 100% acceptance of all chicks in five broodings. The breed is considered dual-purpose as well--sufficient size for meat as well as a steady stream of eggs.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

My Australorp roo is a perfect gentlemen - to humans and hens.

My two young Delaware roos are friendly, but a bit rough with the gals. (I think this will subside over time....)

Bryan