Getting rid of my rooster (guilt)

[Mother of Chaos]

My dad kept chickens 30 years and raised his own . I raise mine a lot like him. I added 2 cockerels in a flock of 8 hens with 12 pullets the same age when I decided to add a rooster.They weren't an accident and I ordered the breed I got.I think it makes a difference if you wait a while before getting a rooster.Hen only flocks are close to perfect!

One thing that I see a lot here - and I’m not blaming! I’m a new chickeneer, too - but many problems seem to happen with those of us who first get into having chickens by creating an Insta-flock, buying a batch of pullets and cockerels all at once. Note: frequently, this is unintentional- thank you Tractor Supply et. al. for your supposedly 100% pullets bins.

At any rate, the result is a flock of chickens all the same age, not raised by broodies, and trying to figure things out. It’s like a poultry version of a shipwreck with all survivors being 7th graders. I remember that it didn’t work well in Lord of the Flies.

 

[McChooky]

One thing that I see a lot here - and I’m not blaming! I’m a new chickeneer, too - but many problems seem to happen with those of us who first get into having chickens by creating an Insta-flock, buying a batch of pullets and cockerels all at once. Note: frequently, this is unintentional- thank you Tractor Supply et. al. for your supposedly 100% pullets bins.

At any rate, the result is a flock of chickens all the same age, not raised by broodies, and trying to figure things out. It’s like a poultry version of a shipwreck with all survivors being 7th graders. I remember that it didn’t work well in Lord of the Flies.

I mostly order sexed autosexing breeds lol

 

[bobbi-j]

In my (40-something years) of raising chickens, I have had some aggressive roosters and some not aggressive roosters. While I don’t believe any method of raising them will 100% guarantee a rooster that won’t go after you, I have had the best luck when I have not tried to make pets of them. I let them know that I am the boss as soon as I can tell that they’re boys. I will walk through them - go from point A to point B in a straight line and make them get out of my way. I will move them away from the food or water just because I can. I will follow them until they feel the need to get away. I am not mean or aggressive with them. They learn to give me space, and I give them theirs. Most of the time it works.

The last one I had to deal with was a cockerel who decided to threaten my then 2-year old granddaughter. He was stomping, dragging his wings and giving her the stink eye. Even after I picked her up and tried chasing him away, he kept circling back. I got her in the house and promptly came out and put him in the grow-out pen with his buddies. I absolutely will not tolerate an aggressive rooster. Especially where my grandkids are involved. I also don’t buy the, “Oh he’s just protecting his flock theory.” If a rooster is too stupid to realize that I am the Bringer of Food and am no threat to him, he needs to go. He’s too busy being distracted by non-threats to protect his flock from a real one.

 

[Sinadrea]

Hello all,

I have had my 3 year old Starlight Green Egger since he was a chick with my first flock. He has just had 6 chicks and at least 1 is a 3 month old Roo.

The elder hasn't settled down at all. He has spurred me 3 times and comes after me every day so I have to arm myself with a stick or something to push him back.
He seems great with the girls most of the time but 3 of them are showing signs of overmating and I can tell they are stressed out.

I haven't had the courage to try and assert dominance over him. I have a 15 month old who wants to go outside and I feel like I am out of options because I don't want the rooster to run our backyard anymore.

Is it irrational to give him away? The person interested will eat him. He has had a great life. He has free ranged for 3 years, he has 7 hens, 6 pullets, and now 6 babies.

What are your thoughts? And thank you in advance!

No kidding, it took about a month to get rid of this one! I finally have someone willing to take him. We will see how they interact today. She is looking for one to protect her 20 hen flock and she is aware of his temperament.