I love my roo!

[Equus5O]

I had no intentions of having roosters. However, four of my eight original flock turned out to be roosters; two Silkies and two RIR/Leghorn crosses. I sold one Silky and gave the same person a cross for free. "Vern," the remaining Silky doesn't take up much space and is pretty much harmless. "Fred," the remaining cross rooster is the MAIN guy! My mother keeps getting after me to get rid of Fred and keep Vern. Vern's cute, but I do like Fred. He's not aggressive to me or my son at all. We don't antagonize him, and he doesn't come after us. He takes treats from my hand, but he's not tame or friendly enough for me to just pick him up.

 

[AHappychick]

awww thats so sweet.

I love my roos too, frankly more than my hens. I handle them a lot though having to biring them in and out so that weeds out any nasties who go immediatly to freezer camp.

But they have such strong personalities and can be so curious, brave and sweet at the same time. I love what little gentlemen they are and how they woo the ladies with their dance and poofing.

I just love my tom too for the same reasons.

 

[kathyinmo]

GardenGal, I love your story! I can just picture it! Wonderful!
I love my roos also. Here is a story I posted in September about my roo, Rupert.

I bought 44 chicks in May. They are now 18 weeks old. When they were about a month old, I was given a trio of 1 yr old cuckoo marans.

Anyway, 1 year old Rupert was given to me, along with his 2 ladies, Lavern and Shirley. After quarantine of 5 weeks they shared the fence line with the main flock for another 5 weeks. Now, for 2 weeks they have all (silkies also) been free ranging together. Though the silkies stay to themselves, they are quick to send the others a runnin' !

Rupert, Lavern, and Shirley all keep to themselves, and stay out of the others' way. I have been wanting to get them in with the main flock, but waiting for the others to grow. Now, since they are near laying, I figured it was time. Four nights ago we put them in the coop with the others. They have been in and out of the run and big coop off and on, while out free ranging. But,they were surely not happy.

The girls both lay an egg every day. But now, in a new coop, what to do?? Oh no, poor Lavern. Pacing the fence line, looking at her old coop, looking up at how high the fence was, and even getting up on the branch roost near the fence (contemplating jumping the fence) for 2 hours, singing the egg song. Honestly, this is unbelievable ... but this is what Rupert did. He went into the hen house (where Shirley had already layed her egg), and got into a nest, and he kept calling her with his sweet song. Over and over and over again. She would go in and come out, go in and come out. So many times, I thought Rupert would give up. During this time, many of the main flock sat inside the coop and watched Rupert, as if they were at a movie. (Only thing missing was the popcorn!). I ran inside to tell the family what was going on. DH (Mike) and I sat out in our yard and witnessed this event. Ever so lovely, Rupert singing to his girl. Finally, she went in and layed her egg in the nest. Then, and only then, Rupert came out.... with her.

This went on again on day 2 and day 3. Today was day 4. It was just a bit different, in that before he got in the nest, he chased the main flock out of the coop. I think he was tired of the audience! LOL. Lavern was much quicker today, less than an hour of pacing and crying the egg song, "I gotta lay, I gotta lay, I gotta lay this egg, oh my!"

This rooster is so lovely. I have watched him for hours. When he mates, I swear he asks first. AND, he does accept, "no," for an answer at times! LOL .... He courts his girls, takes them to dinner, and is always sweet talking to them. Sometimes they squat, sometimes they don't ! Of course Mr. Manners would never do this in front of me (or anyone). This is only done in private, away from others! Around the corner of the run, or when out free ranging in the timber, etc. And ALWAYS very gentle. Those girls don't so much as have a feather out of place, much less a feather missing! I sure wish our Rhode Island Red Rooster, Rocky, could have learned some manners from ol' Rupert.

Honestly, this is a true story. Rupert is so wonderful. The 3 Marans stay together, and don't bother anyone. If someone is invading their space, Rupert will gently guide them away. I mean very gently. He does not peck at the others, just shows them the way out. One time Rocky and Obama were about to really get into it. (First time I had seen this happen also.) Rupert, the lovely man that he is, simply went across the run and walked in between them, and they went their separate ways. WOW, I was shocked. Obviously, Rupert does not like chaos!

UPDATE: Day 5: Lavern layed an egg ... ALL BY HERSELF !

My daughter holding Rupert and Tyson (the dog).

 

[mandelyn]

What a great story! I love my roo too. It's so cute when he jumps onto the back of my chair (yes, I have a chicken observation chair outside for when they're free ranging) and I'll turn and look at him and he'll start "talking"... then I'll move an arm and he'll jump down onto my lap and settle in for me to "clean" his head feathers. He's a lush!

Then Prissy gets jealous, and she hops up, and wiggles herself between Jibbers and me. Silly birds.

 

[chookchick]

Awww, that is great that you have such a good roo! I would get one in a heartbeat if my husband would allow it--does anyone have one that doesn't crow much!!

I had a great roo and had to rehome it, he was soooo full of personality! Don't let the meanies turn you off of having one...

 

[The Zoo]

I swear mine is a birth coach for his favorite hen - when she's in the nesting box, he goes in and sits with her until she lays the egg. If he happens to not be in the coop when she's in there, she clucks at him and he goes running in to her. It's really very sweet. I hope the older girls learn that he can really be a dandy if they let him be boss, it seems to be working. Slowly but surely.

 

[cnj-tx50]

have a big Americanna named Big Joe. He crows at daylight and has never crowed more than 3 times in a row. He's not very loud and the coop is closed up. He's a great guy too. I am always amazed that he is the first one to greet me at the gate!!

 

[AmyRey]

Quote:

 

[conrad_roy]

Can I keep a game roo with docile hens like RIR,OP
BR and EE? If not what type of breed is highly recommended?
Thanks

 

[AmyRey]

Quote:
Our boy is a game bird and we have him with Orpingtons. They all get along like champs.