how long does a roo last?

[Mrs. K]

I am on my 2nd rooster, Captain, and he is a peach. But imho, a rooster really does not become a peach until he is nearly 18 months old. I have usually between 8-10 hens. Am praying daily for a broody hen, will hatch out some of his eggs for sure as I have read that disposition is passed down.

However, he will be a good 2 years old this summer. How old can you keep roosters, or rather expected life span? I have read that if you raise up a rooster under a dominant rooster, for the most part it is ok? And if I kept a rooster chick this summer, next summer Captain would be going on 3 years, so Captain could manage him through those so awkward "teen" years of the new rooster? I have read about a back up rooster, is this how you do it?

I really like having a mature rooster. He has added a lot to my flock, and I have not lost a hen to day time predation since he became mature. He was always good, but I hate to leave a flock with an immature rooster, if something should happen to Captain.

MrsK

 

[Birde]

I have a rooster 7 or 8 yrs. old. He has lost both spurs & 1 eye is cloudy. He is a picture perfect partridge bantam with a beautiful long tail. His mate is black & she is getting gray now. I don't allow him to run free now. He is too old. I even bring him in during bad weather. I don't want to lose him. I'm sure he has some years left. He's happy & healthy & quite funny at treat time. Good luck with yours.