Do I have to have a rooster?

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you’re not free ranging you have even less reason to have a rooster. I would just get rid of him and if you decide you need a rooster in the future get an older one who has a good reputation. Once you have a good rooster you will never tolerate a naughty one.

 

[Chickenmama1115]

You need a plan for the baby cockerels that hatch if you keep a rooster in your flock.(I waited 3 years before adding one to mine)
I don't eat the roosters I raise and can't give away.I process them into chicken broth for soup and food for the same dogs that guard them.

I’m not hatching any! I have a newborn and can’t tend to chicks at the moment. I check and collect eggs 2 times a day right now so that doesn’t happen. Our roo is a silkie so it was a surprise to us! All of my other chickens are hens (luckily). I don’t want to eat him either. This flock are my pets and daughters show chickens, the other flock are my meat birds.

 

[Chickenmama1115]

If you’re not free ranging you have even less reason to have a rooster. I would just get rid of him and if you decide you need a rooster in the future get an older one who has a good reputation. Once you have a good rooster you will never tolerate a naughty one.

We’re going to get rid of him, trying to find him a home now. I was out with him tonight and he started messing with my Cochin, she’s my sweet girl. It tore me apart to see how he was with her. And she’s a large fowl Cochin so her fluffy self doesn’t move as fast as he does.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We’re going to get rid of him, trying to find him a home now.

Since he’s not human aggressive that shouldn’t be too hard. My last naughty boy I sold for $10 for someone else to eat because he was aggressive with my toddler. I was bummed because he was gorgeous but charging a tiny person was my line in the sand—once he crossed it he was gone. If I had been able to process him myself at the time I would have done it then and there.

 

[Chickenmama1115]

Since he’s not human aggressive that shouldn’t be too hard. My last naughty boy I sold for $10 for someone else to eat because he was aggressive with my toddler. I was bummed because he was gorgeous but charging a tiny person was my line in the sand—once he crossed it he was gone. If I had been able to process him myself at the time I would have done it then and there.

Yeahhhh we ended up with 2 Roos when we got this batch, the other Roo had to go, he charged at my daughter and made her bleed. He was gone!! This one hasn’t made anyone bleed but he’s came up and charged me and got my leg. The kids can’t pet him or pick him up, and they can all of our hens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If you can't find him a home and don't want to process him to eat, there are other options. You can chop him and bury him to become fertilizer for, say, a tree. I don't know what your environment is like but we have placed the occasional sick bird we can't eat, and a very aggressive old rooster out in the forest for nature to dispose of (after dispatching humanely, of course!). Circle of Life and all that.