Do I have to have a rooster?

[M To The Maxx]

This is just my input BUT I love my EE roos. There names are Comet and Phoenix. They were GREAT PROTECTERS of his flock. HThey both died about a month ago due to a unknown deadly disease along with many more of our chickens. We had 4 roos and 20 hens. Because of the unknown deadly disease we now have 0 roos and 8 hens. MY 2 EE ROOS WERE THE BEST. I think EEs are great. That is just my input.

 

[NellaBean]

I had not planned on having any roosters but got an accidental "pullet" oopsy Jersey Giant rooster. He is a great guy. And then I bought a bunch of straight run chicks and ended up with a few more. One was mean and got "disposed" of. The other two are tolerable (RIR and Blue Andalusian).

I definitely feel safer having the roosters around! They keep an eye on the girls and keep them in line. They will run over to break up fights between the girls (rare) and my top roo will knock the lower boys off the girls if the girls complain loudly enough. More importantly they crow incessantly when something is "wrong".....loose dog outside the fence, chicken that flew over the fence and is stuck outside, people hanging around. They are my little crowing yard alarms

They also flog strange people who walk into my yard. Whoops? I haven't decided if that is bad or not, ha ha ha. They really do keep an eye on the girls. There was a dog at my fence pacing the fenceline and my big rooster had all the girls way on the other side of the yard away from the dog while he was right at the fence staring the dog down.

Having hatching eggs whenever i want them isn't bad at all either

 

[crazychicken]

Be wary of the temperament of the rooster you choose, you want one that will give you chicks and protect his ladies. I had a roo that I hatched from an egg. I was holding the chickens and with them constantly for the first couple of months feeding them out of my hand and everything..... well when he matured, he was a demon I could not get within 7 feet of the coop with out him charging at the door. he was capital EVIL so naturally with me having a 6 year old brother who got spurred a time or two and mom getting flogged a couple of times he went somewhere else. I just don't know what got into him. He was an RIR, I am sure that there are some awesome and friendly RIR's out there, but I will be staying far away from that breed.

 

[poultryhaven]

Quote:
You know, in my opinion i think you should attend the swap meet that way the person can tell you all about the rooster caause a the auction people usually treat them like meat birds and they aren't too socialized andd some BYC'ers actually socialize their roo's

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
You know, in my opinion i think you should attend the swap meet that way the person can tell you all about the rooster caause a the auction people usually treat them like meat birds and they aren't too socialized andd some BYC'ers actually socialize their roo's

Good idea.

 

[PortageGirl]

I've had friendly RIR roos. You know, I don't fuss with my chicks much at all, I try to be calm, and speak to them when changing water and feed etc, but I don't mess with them much and leave them be.

It really seems that the meanies all seem to be ... or, mostly seem to be from people who handle them a LOT early on. Maybe they lose some fear/respect from that? I dunno, but many though not all of my hens are quite friendly, some are very sweet, and I've had almost all friendly though not cuddly roos. (one meanie that I can think of, a NHR) some standoffish ones, and that's ok with me. All could be handled, though some didn't like it much, they at least tolerated it.

 

[Bill in Hamlet]

We have a Buff Orpington Roo named Dumplin, He is gentle and caring to his girls. He comes to me for treats and then walks away usually 6-8 ft and then give them a call that he got some food for them. They come running and he gives what ever he has. Then he come back to me to ask for more. He keeps them together and herds them back at night. He gave them a call the other day and they all took cover then he ran straight at one of my old bird dogs and at the last minute turned and lead the dog away. When the dog was winded, Dumplin' was giving out a series of victory calls and then returned to his ladies. The roosters job is to take care of his girls and mine will do that and even sacrificing himself. Although he has a terrible dislike for my 5 yr old Grand son. The Roo is always looking to pick a fight with him. Soon the Roo will recieve the correct responce and leave him alone. We are schooling up the boy with a forward snap kick. Dumplin is going to be suprised with that.

Fair Winds,

Bill

 

[cindylouNC]

I have a Americanna-mix rooster that is the sweetest guy. You don't have to have one but they do a lot for the hens. They search for food, protect them and my makes sure the pecking order thing doesn't get too out of hand. Also, when i introduced two little ones to the flock he was so gentle with them that they stayed with him for about four weeks until everyone left them alone. Also my roo show the new pullets how to be hens. He leads them in to the coop, to the nesting boxes and sits with them until they lay an egg!!!!

who says "chivalry" is dead ? lol....that's a cool Roo right there !!!!