I LIKE my Rooster

[ChocolateMouse]

We have an Ameraucana roo (a proper one from a breeder, not an EE) and he's a doll. My biggest problem with him is that he crows right up in my face sometimes while I'm working near the chicken pen and it's loud. o_< He gets swatted at for that. Otherwise, he stays at least 3' away at all times. When I handle his girls he gets cranky, but doesn't attack me. Sometimes he feels bold and comes close. When he does, I chase him into a corner, pick him up and carry him upside-down for a little while. I also give him his health checks while I do this... Maybe 5-6 times a year. He leaves me alone and I leave him alone. Nothing special. It's a good mutual agreement.

 

[GuppyTJ]

I'm interested in this thread too and agree with Centrachid. Much of what is being done here is not necessary and may in fact create issues.

I've had my share of roosters. Right now, I have 4 with my flock. All my chickens free range (absolutely no fence with true free ranging during the day and very secure coop at night). The roosters do a great job taking care of the hens, dancing for them, mating them, guarding them, warning them of danger, fighting a predator if they have to, finding food for the hens, giving me fertile eggs for hatching under broody hens, etc. etc. All the roosters I have because they're pretty, make pretty chicks with my hens and are nice to the hens and nice to humans and because they do their jobs well. None are human aggressive. I do my thing and the roosters do theirs. People come over, family, friends, adults and kids and the roosters just go about their business. No one bothers anyone. Everyone gets along.

I think the way to get a nice rooster is if you can, just pick a nice cockeral to be your keeper rooster! If you have a group of cockerals, pick one that seems to do his job well with your girls but that doesn't pay much attention to you. When you walk by slowly, pick the cockeral to keep that just sort of gets out of the way but doesn't pay any real attention to you. If a cockeral pecks at your foot, don't pick him to be your keeper rooster. Pick a different one.

If you show a rooster aggression or conflict, he's likely to respond in kind. That is his nature. He needs to be dominant in order to be the top rooster and earn the right to mate with the girls. I would never kick my rooster off a girl for mating in front of me. If I did, my roosters would be shocked and probably thinking "What the heck was that all about? I was just doing my job. Now, you human, go over there and do whatever it is you do when you come up this way. You do your job and I'll do mine. Deal?" Deal.

Finally, if you have a mean to humans rooster, my best advice is... get rid of him and get a nice one. I know this can seem harsh but the truth is... there are SO many people trying to find homes for nice roosters they can't keep. Half of all chicks born are boys so there are often roosters for free. Never keep a mean rooster. Trust me... give a nice rooster a home and well... the mean one needs to go. "Go" can be whatever you think is best. For me, this means food for my family...

Hope this helps,
Guppy

 

[igorsMistress]

I have no objection to Emmet ending up on my table if it's necessary. I like this dood, I would prefer to keep him around.

So far what we are doing works for us with good results. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[igorsMistress]

Emmett is such a sweet boy. Nugget was in the coop and the second he heard her egg song he ran to her side and escorted her to the food and something cool to drink.

 

[Askme42]

I'm interested in this thread too and agree with Centrachid. Much of what is being done here is not necessary and may in fact create issues.

I've had my share of roosters. Right now, I have 4 with my flock. All my chickens free range (absolutely no fence with true free ranging during the day and very secure coop at night). The roosters do a great job taking care of the hens, dancing for them, mating them, guarding them, warning them of danger, fighting a predator if they have to, finding food for the hens, giving me fertile eggs for hatching under broody hens, etc. etc. All the roosters I have because they're pretty, make pretty chicks with my hens and are nice to the hens and nice to humans and because they do their jobs well. None are human aggressive. I do my thing and the roosters do theirs. People come over, family, friends, adults and kids and the roosters just go about their business. No one bothers anyone. Everyone gets along.

I think the way to get a nice rooster is if you can, just pick a nice cockeral to be your keeper rooster! If you have a group of cockerals, pick one that seems to do his job well with your girls but that doesn't pay much attention to you. When you walk by slowly, pick the cockeral to keep that just sort of gets out of the way but doesn't pay any real attention to you. If a cockeral pecks at your foot, don't pick him to be your keeper rooster. Pick a different one.

If you show a rooster aggression or conflict, he's likely to respond in kind. That is his nature. He needs to be dominant in order to be the top rooster and earn the right to mate with the girls. I would never kick my rooster off a girl for mating in front of me. If I did, my roosters would be shocked and probably thinking "What the heck was that all about? I was just doing my job. Now, you human, go over there and do whatever it is you do when you come up this way. You do your job and I'll do mine. Deal?" Deal.

Finally, if you have a mean to humans rooster, my best advice is... get rid of him and get a nice one. I know this can seem harsh but the truth is... there are SO many people trying to find homes for nice roosters they can't keep. Half of all chicks born are boys so there are often roosters for free. Never keep a mean rooster. Trust me... give a nice rooster a home and well... the mean one needs to go. "Go" can be whatever you think is best. For me, this means food for my family...

Hope this helps,
Guppy

I have to admit the no line of sight mating had me like huh?

 

[igorsMistress]

Meaning if I can see it, it doesn't happen.

 

[igorsMistress]

Emmett this morning

 

[Askme42]

Meaning if I can see it, it doesn't happen.

But why would you care?

 

[Chickassan]

I honestly don't get in my guys rooster business and they don't get in my people business. I do what I have to do but always with purpose. I never walk around or move for the rooster. Past this as long as he's doing what he should be doing as a rooster we are good. This keeps the likes mutual between the rooster and myself. I'm glad you like your rooster it's a beautiful thing.

 

[Steve J]

My jungle fowl rooster really watches his girls. He doesn't mess with me unless I am catching one. Then he comes at me, but I just hold a stick out and he jumps at that, then he figures out pretty quick he's not going to get past it and leaves. He's worth keeping because I had Cooper's hawks fly down after the flock before I got him. Now they never bother the hens. I guess they see him watching over the hens and somehow know better! He's worth keeping to me because he's always there and would fight to the death for the hens.