Is a rooster a good choice for me? updated with pictures!!!

[yomama]

Thank you. I'm not the most computer capable person. I reposted under a new title "is a rooster a good choice for me, new questions" but I'm thinking I should of just kept on this thread. I'm not quite getting the help I'm looking before. I'm sure it's because the folks that read the newer post weren't aware of the info that I had on here. No fault on their part. So just in case, I'll post the same question here:

So I thought I had made my decision to not get a roo. Then I came back and read all the posts in favor of having one. Now I'm back to deciding whether to get one or not. I don't think that my neighbors that have the roos have a bantam rooster, but I do think they have what looks like a silky or silky cross roo. Not sure how old he is, but he is on the smaller side. Since I have two bantam hens, I was worried about the other rooosters being too big if he chose to mate with them. I have seen the mating, and yeah, not so pleasant to watch. Are silkies less aggressive in the mating department? I do like the idea of a rooster looking out for the girls. A novice question here: does the mating take place ALL the time, or just seasonally? I'm just afraid that if it doesn't work out, I won't have the heart to get rid of him. I've been to the auction once. That was enough for me. I left in tears. Not used to animals being treated as property instead of pets. Even my goats and sheep are treated just as good as my dogs and cats (and bunnies, and fish and finches Unfortunately, I have to decide by tonight, they go to auction tomorrow

 

[ginaseven]

Roosters will breed all of the time, it isn't a seasonal thing like a dog.
I just got a roo. I got the MPC rainbow special in october and thought for sure I would get a roo or several. This is the first time in several chick orders that I did not get one roo. I got him off craigslist from some city people who had them in their house for the past couple of months because he was crowing. He is very friendly, rarely ever crows

and loves his girls.
I think they just make the flock happier and well rounded. I have 12 pullets who were feather picking and just seemed like they were missing something. They are now more comfortable outside and spend much more time in the run. He watches over them and maintains order.
Plus he's beautiful, and such character. I love to sit and watch them interact.
He is supposedly an "african rooster". He is very mellow, not a typical randy roo.

 

[tdgill]

not that I know one way or another but yeah, if you have bantam hens I wouldn't have a full sized rooster with them. I understand you would like to "save" one of your neighbors roosters from the auction and you still can, but I would not keep him with small bantam hens unless he was a small rooster. I agree with the other person that said that it rounds out the flock and if you can have a rooster - its worth it to get one. There are lots of people looking to find a new home for a roo.

 

[catfish/okie]

This is how my rooster is. He is very good to the hens that are laying and submitting to his advances. Occasionally a hen temperarilly stops laying for a while. Because of molting or because she may be going into a broody cycle. He then becomes mean to her. And in turn the other hens picks on her not remembering at one time they were the outcast. Sometimes I think about killing him because of this. But I ghuess this is just normal chicken behavior. This is one thing you may think about espicially if you dont want to raise chicks.

 

[yomama]

Thank you all so much for your input. I am going to look at the roosters tomorrow morning and see if there are any small ones. I did confirm that one of the roos is a silky. He looked small, but again, not sure how old he is. It is too bad that I need to get a small rooster, because they have some really beautiful large roosters! I'll let you know what the outcome is.

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[tdgill]

There are lots of people on here with multiple roosters, multiple flocks etc. If you are really taken by the roosters (it sounds like you are) you can make it work. It might take more work than you're ready to committ to though, And I would be considering more hens if you do get a rooster. From what I read here, four hens is not enough to keep everyone happy. although you would be doing better than me. lol. If you like one of their big roosters, you can let him range with the big girls and then have the bantys in a separate run, or tractor (easy to do). Then you can get a bantam roo for them, and build two flocks... or not. I'm doing it and its working pretty good so far.

eta

 

[gritsar]

Iffin it were me, I'd go with a bantam rooster but not a silky. If you're looking for a roo to be a lookout and warn of danger, you need one that can actually see danger. No offense to the silky lovers out there.
I disagree with the poster that said roos mate year-round. My roo is seasonal. Wintertime is not the right time for chicks, so he has very little interest in mating right now. He also doesn't bother the hens when he or they are in a molt.

 

[silkydragon]

i have a mixed flock of bantys and standards if a banty hen dos not want to breed with a standard roo she is small and quick enough to get away but the only time i had a problem was when we 1st got her since then my standard roos arent even interested like i saide 1 of my roos is 15pounds and my bantys are tiny lil sebrights so if my giant standard roo dosnt hurt them i doubt you will have a problem but i have 3standard roos and 2banty roos +silkys that i cant tell yet my roosters do chase potential broodys off the nest if they think shes been there too long so it is good for if you are just in it for production or use an incubator but if you want a broody and not enough extra hens to keep roo occupied you should move potential broody to a seperate pen or something

i would definitly go with standard sometimes bantys can be alot meaner then there standard counterparts(i know mine are)

lol keep editing as i remember stuff i wouldnt keep seperate pens for bantys and standards unless you only want purebreds for some reason im saying this from experience im making a few breeding pens for a paire or 2 of silkies this spring but everybody else get no fences to seperate and same coop

 

[tdgill]

Quote:
I had a banty years ago and he musta had that little guy attitude too! What he lacked in size he made up for in attitude. lol. I am glad to read your comments because I am totally new at this and probably make it alot more harder than it is. Still I enjoy it. Wondering if there is any reason that you SHOULDNT be keeping separate pens etc. other than its not necessary sometimes? Good point about the silkie roos as protectors gritsar. LOL!

 

[Kittymomma]

Did you end up taking one of the roos? If so, We Want Pictures!

As far as breeding goes, mine go all year long. I suppose some breeds/birds may be inclined to be more seasonal, but I wouldn't count on that being the case.