How do you give up a rooster you love?

[Seaecho]

I know--roosters are part of the hard decisions we have to make, but I'm having a real hard time here. I got two bantam frizzles that were sold to me as pullets. Well, one of them started to get a bigger comb and wattles that turned red around 10 weeks of age.

Long story short, he was a cockerel, and began being a jerk to my two pullets soon after. They are around his age. He's sweet as can be to me and even purrs when I hold him, and will cuddle as long as you want him to. I got attached. I knew I couldn't keep him though, as he was trying to mount the pullets and pecking them. Then one day he all-out attacked my Silkie pullet when she was not even looking at him and was just pecking at the ground. That's when I separated them for good. He's now pacing constantly in his 8 ft. cage and gets himself all upset.

I advertised locally on FB for him as a pet. Got a response that sounded perfect for him. 10 acres, 6 foot fence, predator lights, and many other chickens. I was so happy, since it was going to be hard enough to part with him as it was. Well, she called me the morning of the day we were going to meet and told me either a bobcat or coyote had jumped her fence and killed several chickens. She felt it was better not to take him. I agreed. Problem is, if he was mean to ME I could hand him over to someone who would likely eat him, but he's a lover with people. What have you guys done with roosters you were very attached to?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I often pen them separately and keep them. Bantam Cochin roosters are one of my favorites. They are little goofballs, but usually trouble for their first year or two.

I have managed a few boys through their first 2 years and they eventually become decent boys (mostly). My avatar boy and his brother were kept separately for 2 years before I let them join the big breed flock where another 3 bantam cochins, and 4 large breeds keep each other in check. I can't get rid of bantam roosters unless they are really bad.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

First off, what you said your rooster is doing to your hens sounds natural. He is trying things out. All rooster's do it. It is how you get fertilized eggs when he gets the hang of it. A rooster that is mean to his hens is a rooster that peck at them to draw blood. What you have does not sound like a mean rooster.

 

[Arya28]

You could start a rooster flock. We have done that, sometimes that scrap, but for the most part they don't have hens to fight over and are generally fine together (there are some exceptions).

How many hens do you have? If you have a bunch of hens and only that one rooster, I would probably keep that rooster in with the hens to protect them. It's normal for roosters to mount pullets and be dominant around them. If you have never seen this behavior before, it can be hard to watch and be mistaken for aggression. Are you sure he isn't just acting like a normal rooster around hens?

I just helped my relative rehome a rooster on Facebook that they couldn't keep because he was fighting with their other roosters. They were going to cull him as a last-resort thing but these people really wanted him (several people did!) and put them in with a flock of hens. Now he's happy with them and his flock of hens!

It has to be your decision. If it's just one and it's a bantam, I wouldn't cull him.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Mounting the hens is normal. It looks rough when it’s the first time seeing it. What do you mean by attack? Do hens have any wounds from mating or pecking was wondering. I haven’t dealt with a mean rooster ( thankfully) but I know people keep their roosters separated

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I've had a mean rooster that was mean to hens, once. He liked to peck on mainly just one. He pecked deep holes in her back and tore her neck open. Now the only mean rooster's that I have only attack people, and they are just trying to protect their hens.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

You may want Seperate him till he is older and more mature,no need to get rid of him.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

You don’t want him mounting pullets who are not ready to be bred,I would Seperate him and maybe try getting some older hens,than put him in the cage,they will teach him how to be s man.The birds will let him know when they are ready,simply by squatting.

 

[Arya28]

It does take a cockerel and pullets both time to get used to the "mating" process. At first they are all confused and it will just look like the cockerel tugging on the pullets' necks while they squawk and act like they are being abused. It takes time, eventually the rooster will get better about it and not be as rough, because the hens will be used to it too. Soon you will notice the hens squat for the cockerel instead of squawk and run away. And then the rooster won't be as rough, and will show them treats first, and protect them as he gets the hang of it. That's what roosters are for.

 

[Seaecho]

Well, I was afraid of everyone telling me to give him to someone for dinner. I love these replies! Food for thought. I think I'll just keep him for now in his separate cage until he gets a little older, then try him again with the girls. I do have a 2 yr. old hen (Serama) who takes no crap from him, lol. The two pullets, however, were victimized. I don't know if there was blood on my Silkie, since she's a dark blue (almost black) but I couldn't find any marks on her. It sure looked violent! He was RIPPING at her neck and crest, holding her down. I felt sorry for her, as she has a very full crest and beard, and has trouble seeing because of that. The other pullet has an almost bald head, and I know he's the culprit, as it was full of feathers before. I think she needs a break. I really want to keep him, so I'll wait until he's older and see how it goes then. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not being overly sentimental!