Do I really need to keep a rooster in the flock

[gritsar]

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I agree. It's happened to me. My small flock was ruled by my one-and-only bantam roo and all was fine. Then he "disappeared" (chicken hawk). The flock hasn't been the same since. My flock is all bantams except for one RIR. She has taken over as the HBIC (head Bit$$ in charge) and is pretty cruel to some of the other. We have actually had to separate the flock of 6 into two separate ones so that she won't be able to pick n the others so much. I plan on putting one of my baby roos (hatched out this fall) with her in the spring. That'll show her!!!!!

My two top hens try to throw their weight around from time to time. When they do they get a sharp reprimand from my rooster. He won't tolerate any bullying.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
I agree and me too!!!!

 

[chicktwit]

A rooster can be a good thing aka watching for hawks or other danger, & some will try to take on a predator to protect the flock. I used to have a sweet boy that would crawl up in the nest box to coax the girls into laying eggs. A different one would call everyone in when he caught sight of a hawk & even the ducks would head to the house. Sometimes you can wind up with 1 who uses spurs on the hens or you. They get names like chicken & dumplings or sunday dinner around here. I do prefer to have a roo if he's good to the girls.

 

[mjsparky]

Wow, excellent and timely feedback? I appreciate everyone's quick answer as I'm about to become a butcher in the morning. When I grew up we had chickens, and I helped behead and pluck them, but Mom did all the other work. Tomorrow it's baptism by fire as I hope to complete the whole process, concluding with some roosters becoming chicken broth and others plucked, gutted and in the freezer. I've been reading "The Deliberate Agrarian's" step by step for processing the chickens.

I do have one question, I had intended to kill the Roos with the chopping block and ax method, I notice he slits their throats. Any input on which is better and why?

Thanks