Im new here!

[Michael OShay]

Ok thank you!! I definitely want to natural incubation but I just want to make sure the unhatched chicks are getting the motherly care they need!!
Is there anyway to isolate a roosters breeding time to one certain time of year?
I want with all my heart to keep my rooster but i just dont know if im up to eating fertilized eggs, its a moral thing for me and i dont really know how i or my family feels, so i wanted to see if there was a solution?
Thanks again for your support!!

You're welcome. The only way to isolate a rooster's breeding to a certain period of time is to remove him from the flock for the rest of the time, only putting him with the hens when you want him to breed. If a rooster is around hens, he's going to breed with them no matter what time of year it is.

 

[RooJi]

You're welcome. The only way to isolate a rooster's breeding to a certain period of time is to remove him from the flock for the rest of the time, only putting him with the hens when you want him to breed. If a rooster is around hens, he's going to breed with them no matter what time of year it is.

Are roosters usually kept in the same coop or do they have different living quarters? Is it healthy for the rooster to be separated from the flock or does it add stress to him and/or the flock? Also he has begun to do his 'wing dance' more often than not and each time i pick him up and pet him until he calms down, is there anything else i can do or is it fine just the way it is...will the wing dance progress into more aggressive behavior if i don't take more drastic measures then picking him up?
Thank you!!

 

[Michael OShay]

Are roosters usually kept in the same coop or do they have different living quarters? Is it healthy for the rooster to be separated from the flock or does it add stress to him and/or the flock? Also he has begun to do his 'wing dance' more often than not and each time i pick him up and pet him until he calms down, is there anything else i can do or is it fine just the way it is...will the wing dance progress into more aggressive behavior if i don't take more drastic measures then picking him up?
Thank you!!

Most chicken owners I've known (including myself when I have had roosters) keep the roosters in the same coop with the hens, but there are a few who keep them separate until such time as they want to breed them with the hens. Keeping the roosters separated from the hens does not add stress to either the roosters or the hens. Actually, it is less stressful on the hens, and they typically lay better without a rooster around (it's why I don't currently have any roosters), but given the choice, I'm sure the roosters would rather be in the coop with the hens. ) As far as the wing dance progressing into more aggressive behavior, it can go either way, but if he does become more aggressive, I wouldn't hesitate to eat or re-home him. You don't want to risk an aggressive rooster injuring someone (like putting an eye out), and you certainly don't want to breed that kind of aggression into your flock. If you want to keep a rooster for breeding purposes, there are always loads of unwanted roosters available (including some gentle ones) that owners are trying to re-home.

 

[RooJi]

Most chicken owners I've known (including myself when I have had roosters) keep the roosters in the same coop with the hens, but there are a few who keep them separate until such time as they want to breed them with the hens. Keeping the roosters separated from the hens does not add stress to either the roosters or the hens. Actually, it is less stressful on the hens, and they typically lay better without a rooster around (it's why I don't currently have any roosters), but given the choice, I'm sure the roosters would rather be in the coop with the hens. ) As far as the wing dance progressing into more aggressive behavior, it can go either way, but if he does become more aggressive, I wouldn't hesitate to eat or re-home him. You don't want to risk an aggressive rooster injuring someone (like putting an eye out), and you certainly don't want to breed that kind of aggression into your flock. If you want to keep a rooster for breeding purposes, there are always loads of unwanted roosters available (including some gentle ones) that owners are trying to re-home.

ok thank you I will keep that in mind. He is just reaching his teen years so hopefully he will even out in the next few months.