I ask the stupidest questions!

[gritsar]

Last night I debated with myself whether to ask SO this question or to ask y'all. The pros and cons: If I asked SO he would have the ammuniton to tease me for the rest of my natural life, but I could tell him what to kiss. If I asked y'all, you would all agree that I'm dumber than a stick, but I would never, could never tell y'all what to kiss. So here I go asking both.

I want a rooster. I know enough to know that they can be noisy, mean, obnoxious, etc., but I still want one. I think they are beautiful. The problem is, other than the original baby chicks I order to raise as egglayers, I can't have a bunch of baby chicks running around. I don't believe I could euthanize a perfectly healthy animal and re-homing around here would be difficult because alot of people here have commercial chicken houses and are forbidden by the poultry companies to also have backyard chickens. So you see why I can't have the extra chicks. I went so far as to ask my SO about roosectomies. My logical brain knows there's no such thing, but I was hoping....
And another question while I'm asking: I HAD decided on brahmas, but also wanted some variety (as I mentioned in a previous post) but from what I've gathered reading about the different breeds on hatchery websites, brahmas are considered bantams? They are sold in that category on the sites I have visited. Is this correct? I might want some full-sized chickens as well and you can't mix em, or can you?
Thanks, Kat
P.S. I am not SO stupid that I don't know that you need a rooster for eggs to be fertile.

 

[jkcove08]

If you keep all of your chickens in a run so that they cant sneak off and hide thier eggs you wont have to worry about babies, just make sure you pick them up every day. I know there is a procedure called Capon, where the testies are surgically removed but from what I hear it can be pretty invasive, also then just like any other male animal that has been fixed they will get fat..lol You have a few options at least. Good luck. Jenn

 

[gritsar]

Correction: On one site they are selling brahmas as heavy birds, not bantams; but then I would run into the same problem as before because they only sell them as straight run.
Thank you Jenn for not laughing at me. Maybe you are, but at least you were nice enough to not do it in the reply.

 

[jkcove08]

I would never laugh at someone for wanting something and trying to find a way to make it work.. I do agree that my roos are very beautiful. My hens go broody sometimes but I usually can find the nests and take the eggs before they sit for to long. Mine either lay in the nest boxes or up in the hayloft. Try Ideal hatchery. They usually will sell just roos and they only have a min of a 20 dollar order. This way you might be able to get a few more hens to go along with your group. Otherwise wait until spring and go to a swap, you will easily find a roo that you will fall in love with. You can also check out the temperment too. I have had good roos and bad roos. If they get agressive, off they go. I have young children and will not tolerate an agressive animal on the property. That is one of the reasons 3 tom turkeys are getting the ax tonight for thanksgiving. Jenn

 

[FutureChickenMan]

If you really want a roo, from what you've described, I'd say caponize. Here's a link on the process http://www.umaine.edu/umcecumberland/how_to_caponize_a_rooster.htm

I would think any decent vet that specializes in poultry could do this. This use to be done all the time to get bigger meat birds. BUT you will want to do this while the bird is young.

 

[gritsar]

Thank you! Thank you Jenn!
I did indeed find full-size brahma pullets on Ideal's website.
Thank you as well to FCM for the link. I'll check it out. Psst...we don't have to tell the SO that I'm considering spending good money to have a roo un-rooed do we?

 

[sara]

Quote:
I agree, if you don't let them sit on any eggs you aren't going to have any babies! As long as you keep collecting the eggs I don't see why you would have to do anything to the rooster. I love roosters too. I love hearing them crow and watching them dance around for their ladies!

Oh and as far as I know brahmas come standard and bantam.

 

[Windy Ridge]

Yes, IMO, I wouldn't put your rooster through the stress (and danger) of a surgery. If you collect eggs every day you'll never know the difference in taste. Eggs don't spontaneously start developing into chicks. The temperature and conditions must be JUST right for that, so to get chicks developing, either you would have to use an incubator, or a hen must go broody and set the eggs.

I love roosters, too!

 

[joanc]

I wanted roosters too because I wanted to hear them crowing. I have a Silver Spangled Hamburg and a Sicilian Buttercup. They are both very pretty breeds but both tend to be flighty, and not very friendly.

Don't get me wrong--I love my boys! Especially for their beauty, crowing and the protection they give the girls while free-ranging in the yard. My neighbors (without chickens) also like to hear the crowing. I live in an agricultural area so quite a few other neighbors have chickens and most have roosters. Sometimes it sounds like they're all having a crowing contest.

I collect the eggs 2-3 times a day so I don't worry about any of them being with a hen long enough to develop. As far as I can tell, none of my hens are broody anyway.

I don't have any experience with Brahmas...maybe in the next batch!

 

[Chickadee28]

I was actually wondering the same thing!!! I am undecided if we will get a rooster or not. It would be interesting to know if removing their testicles helps with aggressiveness and noise issues. I have had all of my other male animals neutered with no ill effects, I can't see why it would be any different for a rooster.