I LIKE my Rooster

[K.Riggs]

I'm in a quandary over this guy. He's 7 months old, a great guy with the girls and gorgeous. He has a pea comb and I would love it if we added some blue egg layers to the flock which I could do if I hatch fertile eggs from my EE girl.
On the flip side he's come after me because I was in a hurry and walked past too fast for his liking; I had to chase him across the yard and he was still invading my space later like he was considering another attack. He has chased the 5 year old. He crows a LOT and I'm worried the neighbors are going to complain. I've seen him sizing up the 8 year old who is darn near 5 feet tall for no reason other than he was there.
Hubs and I are discussing our options. I have a little blue Australorp roo now too and his dad seemed pretty chill and quiet
I hate this part of chicken keeping

I wouldn't risk it with kids.

 

[igorsMistress]

I wouldn't risk it with kids.

Ordinarily I wouldn't either, but really even a "nice" rooster can get cranky. And what if he chills out after the hormones settle a bit?

 

[Eggsakly]

I hurt his feelings.

I had a 5-month old pullet in the house for a week recovering from an accident. I took her outside a few times to see if she was ready to be with the others, but it took three attempts before she felt able to live in the coop again.

When she was ready, my favorite cockerel, my beautiful blue laced red boy, was very aggressive to her, the only one of eight chickens who was! I stepped in to prevent him yanking her around by her neck, and I poked him with my finger a couple of times.

He quit bothering the pullet completely. She went about her business and all was good. But . . . I hurt his feelings. The next couple of days when I was outside, apparently I didn't notice him ignoring me enough. He is usually within inches of me wherever I go. I was in the "barn" working and he ran inside and stood completely still, leaning forward and staring right at me. He stayed that way for several seconds. When I spoke to him, he turned and ran straight back the way he had come.

He was showing me he was ignoring me. I had to apologize and feed him to regain his affection. I'm glad we made up.

 

[igorsMistress]

I hurt his feelings.

I had a 5-month old pullet in the house for a week recovering from an accident. I took her outside a few times to see if she was ready to be with the others again, but it took three attempts before she felt able to live in the coop again.

When she was ready, my favorite cockerel, my beautiful blue laced red boy, was very aggressive to her, the only one of eight chickens who was! I stepped in to prevent him yanking her around by her neck, and I poked him with my finger a couple of times.

He quit bothering the pullet completely. She went about her business and all was good. But . . . I hurt his feelings. The next couple of days when I was outside, apparently I didn't notice him ignoring me enough. He is usually within inches of me wherever I go. I was in the "barn" working and he ran inside and stood completely still, leaning forward and staring right at me. He stayed that way for several seconds. When I spoke to him, he turned and ran straight back the way he had come.

He was showing me he was ignoring me. I had to apologize and feed him to regain his affection. I'm glad we made up.

I'm glad you made up too!

 

[Eggsakly]

I'm glad you made up too!

Thank you. It's better this way.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Eggsakly in all seriousness I am happy to know things are good!

My boy has been pretty relaxed lately. I'm in the process of adding to my flock and I've let the littles out to mingle a little with supervision. Emmett didn't peck or chase, just checked out the inside of their coop. He pretty much ignored the chicks, even the little boy.

Our interactions have been less strained, I have been ignoring him unless he's really obnoxious. He's backed off standing on the picnic table to crow so we are making progress there. His spurs have appeared and are maybe 1/3" long.

All the girls still look at each other like they're deciding who has to leave the coop first some mornings, poor things. Sometimes I'll chase Emmett out so the girls can at least walk to breakfast rather than run. I think this frisky boy needs a few more girls to love. I have 2, possibly 3 more girls that hatched in August which will help. I hope.

 

[Eggsakly]

I know what you mean! I like peace at the ranch. I'm glad you are feeling better, and sorry it isn't more settled for you.

I have come to enjoy the rooster part more than I ever thought I would because I've had great luck getting rid of any I didn't want. In my area are a great many Asians, and they have a very different attitude toward roosters. I have had zero difficulty selling bantam roosters and cockerels for $15-$20 each as pets! Although I admit that I don't much care later if they are roasted. I, however, do not eat chickens. I have also gotten rid of my cockerels at local farm swap and sell get togethers, unloading several off onto children who were thrilled and 4H members.

I've become fond of my little mister. He and the golden laced pullet are shadow chickens, following me everywhere. The other Wyandottes are less friendly, especially the other cockerel. He is suspicious of me, but mister likes to be beside me. He will run to me if he even sees me in a window.

I could totally read his body language when he came and stared at me. What a little character! I was happy to win him back. Hopefully we will have years ahead of us, and little baby misters in the near future.

 

[igorsMistress]

The 4Hers don't like my mutts

I'm sure I could sell on craigslist and someone would keep or roast but I'm not naming any more. Hubs says he can't bbq anything with a name and this is supposed to be helping our budget . Guess I rubbed off after all these years. No freezer camp for the existing flock members, but future additions won't be as lucky. I try to remember that one life is only one meal for my family and we are cutting back on meat a lot.
Funny what knowing where your food comes from does to you.

 

[Eggsakly]

It's funnier what knowing your food does to you, like in, oh, yeah, that's him. That one. That unique perspective.

I think people would pay a lot for my little mister, he is so entertaining.

 

[igorsMistress]

Unfortunately we've made the decision to send Emmett to freezer camp. He is very unpredictable. Most mornings the girls wait for him to leave the coop first, and if they resist he goes back to herd them out by pecking them. Today he pushed two girls off the roost to the floor and when they came running to me he wanted to scrap. Jumping and clawing at the air like I'm another rooster. All I did was go feed the chicks, the girls came running to me.
He's aggressive on a more regular basis and it's taking more and more to make him back down. I've never been the aggressor unless he came after me first.
Have the grandkids to think about and this boy isn't calming down as he gets okder, but more aggressive instead.
Sad day.