EE rooster question

[The Zoo]

I have a small flock - 3 hens (2 BPR over a year and 1 16 week old EE) and one apparent 16 week old rooster.
The BPR chase the rooster (and the younger hen) but don't actually attack them.

Question - are three hens really too few for one rooster? I'd like to keep him if he's not too noisy.

Will he get aggressive and if so when? He's definitely not aggressive now, runs (like a roadrunner!) whenever the older hens or I approach him though he is catchable. He still will perch on our arms or shoulders and I'd hate for that trait to go away. He even sits on my lap to be petted when I'm petting the younger hen.

My yard is too small for an attack rooster however and I don't really have many issues with predators. He would be a total fancy pet.

 

[Judy]

It just depends on the roo. One roo to 10 hens is really a rule of thumb. Many people keep mating pairs or groups of 2 or 3 hens with one roo. One roo to 10 hens is too many roos if he wears out a few favorite hens and cuts them up. Since the older girls seem to be running the show, you don't seem to have a problem now, and maybe you never will. Not all roos get aggressive, by any means. Actually I think the mean ones are the minority, at least in most breeds, including EE. Lots of folks on here have roos who are fully mature and remain pets. I'd keep him.

 

[onthespot]

I'd say keep him as long as it works out for you. He may be a good one and stay around for years, or maybe you get a few bators of fertilized eggs and he goes south on you and/or the hens and goes bye-bye.

 

[The Zoo]

Well the eggs are for eating so they'll never get the chance to hatch but he's awfully pretty and I'd like to keep him just to have a little 'pizazz' in the backyard. I've no idea why but I'm thinking of changing his name from Masala to 'Boy George'.

When would his spur buds start showing? I just checked and there's nothing there. It would be something right above the back toe right?