Guard Roosters

[dfchaser]

I was just reading my Backyard Poultry magazine when I came across an article on roosters and their function in the flock. The writer told a story of how his rooster helped him chase off a fox and ensure the hens safety (way to go roo!). My mind quickly jumped to my flock and I simply asked my husband, "we have over 10 roosters, WHAT THE HECK!" I have lost so many birds this winter . . . grrr! Then we mutually decided that our losses are mostly from the younger coop and blame teenagers for the problems. ::shakes head:: There are 6 rooster in a 13 chicken house and I have lost 4 hens from there! UGH, these boys need to step it up!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The writer told a story of how his rooster helped him chase off a fox

I find that hard to believe​

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Quote:
I find that hard to believe

We had a rooster chase off a hawk. Broke his wing. He was extremely aggressive... we ended up butchering him

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
I find that hard to believe

We had a rooster chase off a hawk. Broke his wing. He was extremely aggressive... we ended up butchering him

I can see a rooster attacking a similar sized bird, but not a canine

 

[Nostalchic]

The referenced rooster article from Backyard Poulty (Feb/Mar2010) is so good! It's got some great insights into rooster behavior, fun to read, makes you appreciate your good roosters (or wish for one) for sure. You kind of have to read the fox thing in context but I found it totally believable.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I keep hearing stories like this about how roosters are aggressively defending their hens but I have never seen it happen with any of the many roosters I have now or have had in the past. They are diligent to watch for danger and sound the alarm when they see it, but they hide along with the hens, or cling to their roost, and wait for the predator to leave. For those of you with heroic predator-aggressive roosters, do you find they're also aggressive towards humans?

 

[silkydragon]

out of my 5 roos i have 1 that is very protective runs off my chocolate lab if it gets to "playful" toward a hen which only happend once now she is scared of the chickens the same roo will attack strange humans but not me or my dad since we are around it everyday but since i dont have any run/fences it did attack my neighbor the other day he told us about it when he payed his rent didnt seem bothered by it my dad told him he encourages that 1 rooster to be aggressive to protect the flock

 

[easttxchick]

I do have 1(to quote gritsar) "cowboy rooster" who is absolutely fearless. He NEVER takes cover and stand out in the middle of the pasture all by his solid white, may as well have a bullseye painted on him self, like he is saying "bring it on". He IS definitely human aggressive, but I think I have found something that is working for he and I and it makes me happy because I love his vicious hide!