I got a 10-week-old cockerel for my hens. Was it a mistake?

[3KillerBs]

In general, if there's no blood there's no problem.

If he's not going after the hens aggressively and they're not beating him up but just giving him a few sharp pecks to teach him respect it will probably work out in due time.

Good luck.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

In general, if there's no blood there's no problem.

If he's not going after the hens aggressively and they're not beating him up but just giving him a few sharp pecks to teach him respect it will probably work out in due time.

Good luck.

Thank you. I hear his short crying less and less so it's getting better.
A couple of hens are doing just what you said so it's not too bad then. He's busy keeping the distance from the hens, far from going after them. To him, the hens are just big meanies lol

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you. I hear his short crying less and less so it's getting better.
A couple of hens are doing just what you said so it's not too bad then. He's busy keeping the distance from the hens, far from going after them. To him, the hens are just big meanies lol

At the moment he's the little boy who crashed the ladies' book club meeting.

Soon things will go nuts as his hormones hit and then, sometime in the 6-9 month range, he'll probably take control of the flock.

When my first rooster for this flock was taking charge, at about 7 months, there were some epic, but *mostly* bloodless contests between him and the dominant hen -- a Brahma who had never squatted for me either. One time I was unable to get my phone out in time to record a remarkable feat of hen-surfing, where she ran over halfway around the pen with him standing on her back.

But a year or so later when I sold him, she was his favorite hen and I sold her with him to keep them together.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

At the moment he's the little boy who crashed the ladies' book club meeting.

Soon things will go nuts as his hormones hit and then, sometime in the 6-9 month range, he'll probably take control of the flock.

When my first rooster for this flock was taking charge, at about 7 months, there were some epic, but *mostly* bloodless contests between him and the dominant hen -- a Brahma who had never squatted for me either. One time I was unable to get my phone out in time to record a remarkable feat of hen-surfing, where she ran over halfway around the pen with him standing on her back.

But a year or so later when I sold him, she was his favorite hen and I sold her with him to keep them together.

Wow. I'm looking forward to seeing my Mini Roo taking charge of the flock but I'm also a bit worried about it. Hopefully no blood coming... They're docile breed so it can't be that bad.
For now, the second from the bottom hen bullies him here and there but the rest don't seem to mind him too much.
Anyways it'll be interesting.

 

[Happy Novogens]

... he didn't even go to the coop to collect the hens after they laid eggs. He just squacked from far away when he heard an egg song.

Not meaning to hijack this thread but could you please elaborate on this? We got a rooster after having just hens. He was younger too & they all get along now. But I have no prior experience with roosters so don't really know what's normal. What is this about "collecting hens"?

 

[Mrs. K]

A flock master is a superb rooster and having him in your flock is a joy. A lot of roosters will never make a flock master. Some have more good traits than others. IMO flock master will:

• has a pleasant crow
• will be the first bird to see you as you approach
• has his head up often looking for problems
• hens adore him, and will squat for him
• breeds with out a feather out of place
• gives alarm calls if something is around
• tidbits, and calls girls and chicks to a treat
• wing dances
• shows hens what he thinks (hopes ) are pleasing nests
• sits with hens as they lay
• keeps his hens together, and keeps fights out of his flock
• is good with chicks
• is good with people, just casually creating space away from the human with his hens with him
• does not flap his wings at you
• does not crow incessantly when you are in the coop
• does not give you the stink eye
• does not sneak up behind you
• does not fly up on something to make himself as tall as you.
• does not attack for any reason

If you get a rooster with 50% of the good traits and 0% of the rotten traits...that is a decent rooster. If you get one with all of the good traits, ahhh that is my boy I called Bye. And a !#$@^$%&#^%$@# coyote took him out.
Mrs K

 

[Happy Novogens]

A flock master is a superb rooster and having him in your flock is a joy. A lot of roosters will never make a flock master. Some have more good traits than others. IMO flock master will:

• has a pleasant crow
• will be the first bird to see you as you approach
• has his head up often looking for problems
• hens adore him, and will squat for him
• breeds with out a feather out of place
• gives alarm calls if something is around
• tidbits, and calls girls and chicks to a treat
• wing dances
• shows hens what he thinks (hopes ) are pleasing nests
• sits with hens as they lay
• keeps his hens together, and keeps fights out of his flock
• is good with chicks
• is good with people, just casually creating space away from the human with his hens with him
• does not flap his wings at you
• does not crow incessantly when you are in the coop
• does not give you the stink eye
• does not sneak up behind you
• does not fly up on something to make himself as tall as you.
• does not attack for any reason

If you get a rooster with 50% of the good traits and 0% of the rotten traits...that is a decent rooster. If you get one with all of the good traits, ahhh that is my boy I called Bye. And a !#$@^$%&#^%$@# coyote took him out.
Mrs K

So sorry you lost such a great rooster .

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

A flock master is a superb rooster and having him in your flock is a joy. A lot of roosters will never make a flock master. Some have more good traits than others. IMO flock master will:

• has a pleasant crow
• will be the first bird to see you as you approach
• has his head up often looking for problems
• hens adore him, and will squat for him
• breeds with out a feather out of place
• gives alarm calls if something is around
• tidbits, and calls girls and chicks to a treat
• wing dances
• shows hens what he thinks (hopes ) are pleasing nests
• sits with hens as they lay
• keeps his hens together, and keeps fights out of his flock
• is good with chicks
• is good with people, just casually creating space away from the human with his hens with him
• does not flap his wings at you
• does not crow incessantly when you are in the coop
• does not give you the stink eye
• does not sneak up behind you
• does not fly up on something to make himself as tall as you.
• does not attack for any reason

If you get a rooster with 50% of the good traits and 0% of the rotten traits...that is a decent rooster. If you get one with all of the good traits, ahhh that is my boy I called Bye. And a !#$@^$%&#^%$@# coyote took him out.
Mrs K

Your rooster sounded like a great one, I am sorry for your loss. It seems like the good ones always go first.

 

[Mrs. K]

It really was. I am not overly sensitive. I more than understand that chickens are not real long lived. But I did mourn Bye. I never intended to keep him, he was ugly as sin, but he just kept ticking off the flock master boxes.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

Not meaning to hijack this thread but could you please elaborate on this? We got a rooster after having just hens. He was younger too & they all get along now. But I have no prior experience with roosters so don't really know what's normal. What is this about "collecting hens"?

No worries.
When hens lay an egg, often they make a specific sound very loudly. Good roosters hurriedly go to the hens and escort them back to a safe place. It looks like 'collecting'.