Do roosters need hens?

[happyhens1972]

You don't have to ask them - they can tell you everything you want to know. Just watch their behavior. Are they active, eating well, staying in your yard? Or are they listless, no appetite, leaving the yard looking for female companionship? Your roosters follow you around the yard because they are used to you and know that you are the Keeper Of The Treats. They know that when you show up, they get goodies. They crow when you go in, hoping that you'll come back out and spoil them some more. They are pets, and seem to be doing just fine. Not every situation is the same for everyone. Breeders may have a hard time grasping the "Roosters (or chickens in general) as pets" thing, but if it's working for you, then don't worry about it. If they're happy and healthy, don't mess with the system. My husband is 59 years old, grew up raising various animals throughout his life and says that if you have two males together without females they get along just fine. The breeding instincts don't seem to kick in until you throw a female into the mix and they realize they should be doing something. You've had them for 3 years. Why change now? It doesn't seem to matter anyway since you can't have more chickens where you live. As far as letting them "live as close to what nature intended", it's too late now. They should each have a harem, living where they can free range all the time, maybe on a farm or something. You're doing a good job with them. Keep it up!

Well said!

I have five male house cats....all Bengals.

1. Boys 'shouldn't live together'
2. Cats 'should be outside'
3. Bengals especially are 'wild' so need to free range

Pooh! They are all between nine and a half and ten years old and are happy, healthy, loving, adventurous, playful, very much bonded cats. I have had all sorts of criticism over the years for having so many boys and for them being house cats but I know my babies and they are very happy. As I write this, they are curled up in a big pile together, in a sun spot, as content as anything.

Nature would have them prowling the jungles, at threat from disease, loss of territory to other cats, hunger, injury, fighting each other.....know where my cretaures would rather be

They were never as nature intended. They were born because of humans, for humans and the same goes for your boys.

 

[neophyte17]

Well said!

I have five male house cats....all Bengals.

1. Boys 'shouldn't live together'
2. Cats 'should be outside'
3. Bengals especially are 'wild' so need to free range

Pooh! They are all between nine and a half and ten years old and are happy, healthy, loving, adventurous, playful, very much bonded cats. I have had all sorts of criticism over the years for having so many boys and for them being house cats but I know my babies and they are very happy. As I write this, they are curled up in a big pile together, in a sun spot, as content as anything.

Nature would have them prowling the jungles, at threat from disease, loss of territory to other cats, hunger, injury, fighting each other.....know where my cretaures would rather be They were never as nature intended. They were born because of humans, for humans and the same goes for your boys.

thank you both for your well written comments. You have definetly set my mind at ease. I also have five large dogs that are mostly inside dogs. They have a very large yard ti run around in if and when they choose to and I take them for walks. I had criticized for having so many dogs. but I know they are very happy and well cared for. since I have never had chickens before U wanted to hear the opinion of those that have raised them before.

 

[aldarita]

Thanks neophyte17 for posting this topic, I too have 2 beautiful 1 year old roosters that I keep isolated in their own coop and run away from the females. I had to separate them because it was a nightmare to keep them together. I always felt guilty for doing so until I read your post and the answers you got. They follow me around when I check them and they are so peaceful now. I try to spend time with them every day.

 

[Going Quackers]

I see no harm, i have 2 sets of roosters only being banties they don't require grand amounts of feed or effort, so they stay lol i do have some hens & roosters and some hens with no roosters... all sorts of dynamics, everyone seems happy? many different approaches to this, besides being boys things could be much worse, like in my freezer lol

 

[neophyte17]

Thanks neophyte17 for posting this topic, I too have 2 beautiful 1 year old roosters that I keep isolated in their own coop and run away from the females. I had to separate them because it was a nightmare to keep them together. I always felt guilty for doing so until I read your post and the answers you got. They follow me around when I check them and they are so peaceful now. I try to spend time with them every day.

I also felt guilty until I read the replies. My roosters may not have hens but they do live well as I spoil them alot. They run around following me all over the yard all day when I am off work. I try to spend as much time with them as I can so they don't get lonely. They love sitting on my lap. Lol

 

[aart]

Cool roosters....and rooster owner.

Am curious tho, that a code that only allows 2 chickens would allow roosters at all?

 

[neophyte17]

Cool roosters....and rooster owner.

Am curious tho, that a code that only allows 2 chickens would allow roosters at all?
No city code.does not allow roosters. But I have good neighbor said don't complain.

 

[neophyte17]

then again my roosters sleep inside my house

 

[bobbi-j]

So, basically you have feathered dogs....

 

[neophyte17]

So, basically you have feathered dogs.... 

Guess you could say that. Just as the sun goes down, they both go to the front door and I open it, they walk in the house and put them on the sofa, they sit there quietly while I watch tv until I am done watching a movie and then I put them in their room to go to sleep