I need some FAST advice on chickens...

[CarolJ]

Whether or not to have a rooster is a personal preference. I spent the first six months I had chickens saying NO - I did NOT want any roosters. Then we hatched some eggs and got a rooster, and I now I love having a rooster. I love the crowing. Plus now we've hatched some "grandchicks" from our rooster and hens.

 

[jdavidphero]

Those squares are glass blocks I had laying around I also use one for the front bird door. You pull a cord to open and close and do not make fun of my chicken paintings!! lol

 

[DanielHoover]

If the take the rooster you will be able to increase your flock. Rhode Island Reds
make good mother hens when allowed to go broody. Some Rhode Island Red
rooster get mean and will flog you.

 

[jdavidphero]

flog?? I better goggle that.

 

[jdavidphero]

Holy mackerel. flogged?!?!?


Verb 1.

flog - beat severely with a whip or rod; "The teacher often flogged the students"; "The children were severely trounced"

I thought I wamted a rooster but i never heard of this

 

[jdavidphero]

I was under the impression to had to have a rooster to get chicks? maybe I need to do some more reading and cancel getting chickens tomorrow? Flogging and not knowing about how chicks are made is not showing i am so prepared.

 

[perchie.girl]

I was under the impression to had to have a rooster to get chicks? maybe I need to do some more reading and cancel getting chickens tomorrow? Flogging and not knowing about how chicks are made is not showing i am so prepared.

Not all roosters ""flog"" I loved my roosters they all gave me the top billing on the pecking order. I have been spurred by other peoples roos but they never did that to me again. LOL not even the turkey did that to me again. Mr T was a big coward when you challenged him back. What a goofball.

I even got full grown roos along with 30 young hens. I never backed off when they did challenge me.... dragging a wing on the ground .... Besides they were too busy keeping tabs on each other. I had three for thirty hens. One was an alpha and what he said the others complied with. It was funny watching him make them toe the line. But all three kept good watch over my hens protecting them from predators.

So never back down on a roo that challenges you. Step forward till he takes off. Most of the time it only takes that much. But if you wind up with a roo that is too aggressive its easy to rehome or if you are brave dispatch and put em in the stew pot.

Just remember they are chickens and have behaviors that have NOTHING to do with what we perceive as their intentions. Dont Anthropomorphize.... Whew thats a fifty dollar word.

deb

 

[debid]

If you want a rooster around so eggs can be hatched or to help protect the girls, get a rooster. I don't think your friend is going to give you a mean rooster (she probably would have eaten him if he were mean...) and getting one that's already grown makes a big difference since he's had a chance to demonstrate his temperament.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

If you want to have fertile eggs and hatch chicks then yes you need a rooster. If you don't want to hatch your own eggs, then I would say no to the rooster due to the noise and aggressiveness. It is personal preference.