First rooster, advice?

[Duckduckchicken32]

Hi! This spring we may be adding three chicks- one of which will be a rooster from Meyer Hatchery. The ratio in our flock will be 8 hens to 1 Cockerel. This will be our first experience with one, so does anybody have any tips on keeping them friendly as they grow up? I don’t know if the breed will matter, but we were hoping the rooster would be an lavender Orpington. Is the average rooster of that breed more on the friendly side? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[3KillerBs]

@Mrs. K has excellent advice in re: roosters.

I've had very good success with the "walking through him" technique -- being The Giant Who Brings Food, a large and mysterious natural force like a horse or a cow, rather than a member of the flock itself.

There are no guarantees. My dear Rameses, who spend the first 15 months of his life never giving me a moment's worry has recently changed his attitude and will now be kept only through the spring breeding season and only then if he doesn't push me any harder.

 

[Brooks_]

In the event an issue arises, DO NOT try to make excuses for him.

 

[Mrs. K]

Are you getting hatch mates or do you currently have hens and adding to them?

If you are just getting started, I would recommend no roosters until next year. Cockerels tend to grow faster than pullets, become sexually interested long before pullets and can just be very rough on pullets.

However, if you wait a year, and let the rooster grow up under adult hens, those hens will teach him some manners, and proper behavior in chicken society. The best roosters that I have had, have been raised up under adult hens.

However, nothing is fool proof, and really do not get a rooster if you do not think you can cull it, or have friends or family that can cull it. A LOT of roosters just do not work out. They can be aggressive with other birds, or become human aggressive. Most people vastly underestimate how violent a rooster can be.

If you have children under the age of 6 I highly recommend NOT HAVING a cockerel. Cockerels tend to attack children first if they are becoming human aggressive. Often times people say that the attack came out of no where, but I think that inexperienced people do not recognize or find excuses for the signs of aggression until it is too late. Children can take that attack in the face. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken hobby for a lot of people.

As for friendly - no you really don't want that. Cockerels and chickens really are not like puppies and kittens, whereas if you are nice to them, they become life long companions. Any two birds meeting up, one is higher and one is lower socially speaking. The lower bird gives ways, that is giving respect. If not, there is a peck or more to remind them. If your cockerel is not respectful to you, keeping about 5-8 feet away from you, moving out of your space. That is respect. Otherwise, he is not afraid of you, comes into your space, and really thinks you should back down, and eventually becomes willing to flog you to do so. This website is filled with posts where the darling became the nightmare in an instant.

If you get a fantastic rooster, you have been blessed, and they are a joy to have in the flock and to watch as he takes care of your girls. Just know, no matter how you raise him, this is a crap shoot. They can turn on you any time. You need to be very aware.

Mrs K

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

Are you getting hatch mates or do you currently have hens and adding to them?

If you are just getting started, I would recommend no roosters until next year. Cockerels tend to grow faster than pullets, become sexually interested long before pullets and can just be very rough on pullets.

However, if you wait a year, and let the rooster grow up under adult hens, those hens will teach him some manners, and proper behavior in chicken society. The best roosters that I have had, have been raised up under adult hens.

However, nothing is fool proof, and really do not get a rooster if you do not think you can cull it, or have friends or family that can cull it. A LOT of roosters just do not work out. They can be aggressive with other birds, or become human aggressive. Most people vastly underestimate how violent a rooster can be.

If you have children under the age of 6 I highly recommend NOT HAVING a cockerel. Cockerels tend to attack children first if they are becoming human aggressive. Often times people say that the attack came out of no where, but I think that inexperienced people do not recognize or find excuses for the signs of aggression until it is too late. Children can take that attack in the face. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken hobby for a lot of people.

As for friendly - no you really don't want that. Cockerels and chickens really are not like puppies and kittens, whereas if you are nice to them, they become life long companions. Any two birds meeting up, one is higher and one is lower socially speaking. The lower bird gives ways, that is giving respect. If not, there is a peck or more to remind them. If your cockerel is not respectful to you, keeping about 5-8 feet away from you, moving out of your space. That is respect. Otherwise, he is not afraid of you, comes into your space, and really thinks you should back down, and eventually becomes willing to flog you to do so. This website is filled with posts where the darling became the nightmare in an instant.

If you get a fantastic rooster, you have been blessed, and they are a joy to have in the flock and to watch as he takes care of your girls. Just know, no matter how you raise him, this is a crap shoot. They can turn on you any time. You need to be very aware.

Mrs K

Thank you for your advice! We have 6 two and a half year old hens.

 

[triciayoung]

Hi! This spring we may be adding three chicks- one of which will be a rooster from Meyer Hatchery. The ratio in our flock will be 8 hens to 1 Cockerel. This will be our first experience with one, so does anybody have any tips on keeping them friendly as they grow up? I don’t know if the breed will matter, but we were hoping the rooster would be an lavender Orpington. Is the average rooster of that breed more on the friendly side? Any advice would be appreciated!

I have a very different approach with my two roosters than most here. When I read about this approach, I think I "got it" and used it with my roosters because I am used to having a dominant pet - I have owned Akita's most of my adult life. I held my roosters a lot as they were babies. When they reached sexual maturity, I started to treat them as though I see through their eyes. When my last Akita (Princess), before my current one (Yoshi) and I were in puppy training, the trainer told me that there are some things that just cannot be taught to my Akita - no matter what. She went on to tell me a story about her Akita who took down a guy that tried to rob her at an ATM, then she said "an Akita cannot be taught to walk behind you through a door, they are guard dogs, and their job is to protect their pack always with their lives". When my roosters became older, I knew their job(s) were to find food for the hens, protect the hens with their lives and mate. Instead of spending my time trying to dominate them - I developed a friendship with them. They know my role is to feed them and to provide them with security. Everything I do, I think about their innate need to do one of the purposes they have....I treat them like they are partners with me - and protectors of the hens. I feed them first - even though they won't eat first. When I need to pick up a hen, I look him in the eyes and with a baby voice tell him its going to be OK. If I go check on the hens in the evening, I tell him before I get there that its just me and everything will be OK. I spend alone time with him a few times a week telling him how proud I am of him for protecting the hens, and I give them treats I don't give the hens. And, I never let the hens out in the chunnel without letting the roosters out in the yard. I have a really good relationship with my roosters, in fact, I think there is more depth to them then the hens. I really think this approach has been successful and if it is your style - you should use it.

 

[Folly's place]

I talk to my birds all the time, and call them for treats, all part of the fun of having chickens. However there's no way I think that my birds actually know what I'm talking about! A cockerel who decides to be human aggressive is going to get on with it regardless, and might be able to respect an individual human, but will challenge every person he meets.
Dogs are much smarter than any chicken, and our relationship is different on so many levels!
It's great to have polite and useful roosters, beautiful birds, and they complete the flock socially. We wouldn't be without them, currently have three, all lovely.
@Mrs. K has good advice, always, and lots of experience. We've also raised many cockerels over the decades, and learned who's worth keeping, and who's not.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

as good advice, always, and lots of experience.

Thank you, a lovely compliment.

I have to laugh, but there are really just no guarantees. I had a fabulous rooster, named Bye, but I lost him to a predator attack. Got another one (roosters are easy to come by) called him Snowman. Never was too attached to him and I really think it was because I was always comparing him to Bye.

Two days ago, I was headed to take care of them, gave myself a talking to..."This Snowman, is NOT that bad of a rooster, you need to let it go." Walked in, turned sideways, and Snowman flew at the side of my leg with a good thump. Totally out of the blue.

I am an experienced poultier, with years (decades) in this hobby. Many roosters have I raised and culled. Smacked along the leg, totally out of the blue. He was never the darling, and he dang sure is not going to be a nightmare either. Often times I have grandchildren with me, and I would have felt bad if he had gotten one of them.

They are a crap shoot. There really is no perfect way to raise them up, as in if you do this, they will be a darling. You get the best roosters with a sharp knife. Don't keep the rotten ones, and eventually you get a gem.

Mrs K

 

[ChicFil- A]

@Mrs. K has excellent advice in re: roosters.

I've had very good success with the "walking through him" technique -- being The Giant Who Brings Food, a large and mysterious natural force like a horse or a cow, rather than a member of the flock itself.

There are no guarantees. My dear Rameses, who spend the first 15 months of his life never giving me a moment's worry has recently changed his attitude and will now be kept only through the spring breeding season and only then if he doesn't push me any harder.

Great advice

 

[ChicFil- A]

I have a very different approach with my two roosters than most here. When I read about this approach, I think I "got it" and used it with my roosters because I am used to having a dominant pet - I have owned Akita's most of my adult life. I held my roosters a lot as they were babies. When they reached sexual maturity, I started to treat them as though I see through their eyes. When my last Akita (Princess), before my current one (Yoshi) and I were in puppy training, the trainer told me that there are some things that just cannot be taught to my Akita - no matter what. She went on to tell me a story about her Akita who took down a guy that tried to rob her at an ATM, then she said "an Akita cannot be taught to walk behind you through a door, they are guard dogs, and their job is to protect their pack always with their lives". When my roosters became older, I knew their job(s) were to find food for the hens, protect the hens with their lives and mate. Instead of spending my time trying to dominate them - I developed a friendship with them. They know my role is to feed them and to provide them with security. Everything I do, I think about their innate need to do one of the purposes they have....I treat them like they are partners with me - and protectors of the hens. I feed them first - even though they won't eat first. When I need to pick up a hen, I look him in the eyes and with a baby voice tell him its going to be OK. If I go check on the hens in the evening, I tell him before I get there that its just me and everything will be OK. I spend alone time with him a few times a week telling him how proud I am of him for protecting the hens, and I give them treats I don't give the hens. And, I never let the hens out in the chunnel without letting the roosters out in the yard. I have a really good relationship with my roosters, in fact, I think there is more depth to them then the hens. I really think this approach has been successful and if it is your style - you should use it.

I understand your thinking and approach, and I believe I will integrate this with our new rooster that will be here this week,
I think if you formed a bond and partnership it would definitely be positive for the flock and everyone involved.