How many hens do we need

[Unearthed wonder]

There

I don't want to start any arguments, but I don't think it's fair to the OP for people to be jumping to the conclusion that the OP should kill their rooster.

I have three roosters, and all of them are respectful of my personal space. They do not approach me, I approach them. I have younger siblings (8 months,5 years, 8 years, 11 years and me) and the roosters have never shown any sign of aggression towards them.

As long as you and the children are respectful of the fact that the rooster is a dominant male that has the instinct to protect his females, there should be no issues. That being said, it would be best to shut him and his hens away whilst the day care group is around. If you do let him out whilst the daycare group is around, it is necessary to keep a very close eye on him, any aggression and he should go.

I think that as long as you teach your children that he isn't a cuddly pet, and that they must respect him, there will be no problems, and most certainly no reason to kill him.

All the best
-Feather

here is no way

 

[Unearthed wonder]

There is no way we would kill him. Just do not have it in us! We do need to think about a back up plan though as currently, the favourite climbing tree is in the chicken yard. Ideally rehome or keep, however, I know this may very a very difficult task. Not sure quite how to approach it.

 

[Shadrach]

This board will shortly be full of where the darling became the nightmare.

This is unfortunatly true. What seems to elude many is they've turned an angel into a devil because they try to make a rooster something it isn't.
All my tribes seem to work fine with a 5:1 ratio free range. While a rooster may be able to sevice many more hens, he can't adequately perform the other duties a good rooster should imo.
Roosters and kids......I wouldn't unless you can train the kids and from your earlier post where kids are chasing the rooster this looks unlikely.

 

[Melky]

There is no way we would kill him. Just do not have it in us! We do need to think about a back up plan though as currently, the favourite climbing tree is in the chicken yard. Ideally rehome or keep, however, I know this may very a very difficult task. Not sure quite how to approach it.

I think too you have to think about chicken math. Do you really want to breed chickens that could provide more Roos and hens? And a lot of them! Do you want them for meat or eggs? Since you do not want to kill then for meat is out. Six hens for a family for eggs is plenty. It might be best to rehome or sell the roo. You can do that in our rehoming section of the forums and in your states thread. All you need is hens for eggs. I only have hens with no Roo and we are a happy flock with no complications. I run a doggie daycare. I also free range but after work and weekends for safety reasons. Best of luck!

 

[Unearthed wonder]

I think too you have to think about chicken math. Do you really want to breed chickens that could provide more Roos and hens? And a lot of them! Do you want them for meat or eggs? Since you do not want to kill then for meat is out. Six hens for a family for eggs is plenty. It might be best to rehome or sell the roo. You can do that in our rehoming section of the forums and in your states thread. All you need is hens for eggs. I only have hens with no Roo and we are a happy flock with no complications. I run a doggie daycare. I also free range but after work and weekends for safety reasons. Best of luck!

Thanks

 

[aart]

I think too you have to think about chicken math. Do you really want to breed chickens that could provide more Roos and hens?

Well, just because you have a male in the flock, and thus fertile eggs, doesn't mean you have hatch chicks. You may never have a broody hen, but even if you do doesn't mean you have to let them hatch eggs, the broodiness can be 'broken' fairly easily.
But, yeah, hatching eggs means about half the chicks will be males.

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot of people underestimate how violent a rooster attack can be. If the children are playing in the chicken yard, I strongly recommend that you remove the rooster from their vicinity. Children playing, running, jumping and yelling are normal childhood behavior, it is also the behavior that will very likely seem like a threat to the rooster.

A rooster attack can knock a child down, the rooster will fly at the child about 3 feet off the ground with his feet forward to present the claws and talons. They often start attacking by sneaking up on the person. Even if they are not scratch and clawed, the wings beating on them is quite a thump.

Do some research on here, there are very real stories of some bad attacks. Where adults are afraid.

If you cannot dispatch him, you need to really get active in finding him a home. I would not want my grandchildren in this day care. I am not sure how you could explain a rooster attack to a parent.

Mrs K

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why do you want that male, assuming you do. What are your goals with chickens? How does he fit in? The only reason you need a rooster is for fertile eggs, everything else is personal preference. Your personal preferences are very different to mine, judging from your posts. I always try to suggest that you keep as few males as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters, but problems are more likely. In your case zero may be the best number.

As much as some people may believe otherwise, no one (including me) can tell you how that male will behave as he matures. Hens either for that matter, but they are much less of a risk. It's possible he will be fine with those kids but it is also possible he will take an eye out. Is he worth the risk to you?

Day care implies under 5 years old. How quick can a 3 year old be? How well do they remember warnings? They may be able to manipulate a lock on the coop and run. Once that 13-week-old cockerel becomes a rooster one of his duties it to protect his flock. Do you think a kid chasing one of his hens would seem threatening to his flock to him? It is possible you can build a coop/run where escape is practically impossible and you can use padlocks or something the kids can't manipulate, but I'd consider a rooster as a liability. Have you chatted with your insurance agent about that?

As far as getting rid of him, since you say you cannot kill him yourself, if you are in the States I suggest you advertise him on Craigslist or whatever the equivalent is wherever you are. You may be able to find your State or Country thread in the "Where am I? Where are you!" section of this forum and chat with your neighbors. Your feed store may allow you to put up a notice on a bulletin board. There may be chicken swaps or auctions near you.

 

[lena_]

There is no way we would kill him. Just do not have it in us! We do need to think about a back up plan though as currently, the favourite climbing tree is in the chicken yard. Ideally rehome or keep, however, I know this may very a very difficult task. Not sure quite how to approach it.

Well, If you want to keep him, the chicken yard may have to be under lock and key. Or it may no have to be... The 'rooster' is still a fairly young cockerel, you can't quite analyze his temperament at 13 weeks.

I honestly think that you should keep him. Throughout my entire life, we have always had roosters, in fact, one of earliest photos is of me holding my Gran's prized cochin rooster.

Our current rooster (main flock) is a Rhode Island Red named Reggie. He's not aggressive at all, you can catch a hen with him watching and he won't retaliate(I only catch the hens if I have concerns for their health, or they are injured) There are always kids running around the farm, never a rooster attack. Not one. We also have a silkie mix rooster (my young sister owns him) not aggressive, again, she can pick up a hen with him him watching, he has never attacked anyone. My younger sister(5 yrs) loves my show Old English Game Bantams(she calls them Gaming Bantams), She'll catch the hens and hug them, she loves them. My (OEGB) rooster, despite being a traditionally aggressive breed, just won't attack her. I have informed all of my siblings on how to behave around a rooster, and they seem to respect it.

I truly don't think that you need to rehome him, if you truly think that you need to, try to find him a pace with someone who you know (a friend would be better) I know to many people who have given away their roosters, only to find out that the SPCA saved yet another bait bird from a cock fight. Be careful of who you trust your rooster with.
-Feather

 

[Mrs. K]

I think a farm situation is an entirely different situation than the op has. The op is risking their income and liability on a 13 week cockerel. Not worth it to me.