newbiechickenlady20
Songster
- Jan 28, 2020
- 90
- 73
- 121
Can someone tell me what a "normal" rooster is like? We just have one - a Rhode Island Red. His name is Ernest (Ernie for short) lol. Along with 13 hens.
Originally we had 5 RIR roosters from our straight run batch. 4 of them ended up in the freezer, and we kept Ernie because he was much more docile than the others. Well. Then he became the only male and got cocky.
He will occasionally jump at us. Idk exactly how to describe it because it always happens too quickly, but I know he's using his spurs (he got me on the leg today) and is being aggressive. When he does that, we chase after him and sometimes throw a stick if he was very aggressive to show him he's not boss. Idk if this is the best method, but I also don't know what else to do...He doesn't do it that often, but often enough that I watch him whenever we're in the fence because he's also gone after our toddler..
Is this just typical rooster behavior? I don't like having to keep an eye on him. I don't know how much good he does for his ladies, but he seems like a pretty protective guy to them. He does scare some of the hens off if he's eating, but others he doesn't mind if they're next to him. He has rounded them up under the chicken tractor before when there were predators. And once a hawk tried grabbing a hen and he went to help, but the hawk flew off.
So, should we just wait til Spring and get some eggs in the incubator and cull him too once we have another rooster? Or is he overall a good one? We've never had one before so I have no point of reference.
Thanks in advance!
Originally we had 5 RIR roosters from our straight run batch. 4 of them ended up in the freezer, and we kept Ernie because he was much more docile than the others. Well. Then he became the only male and got cocky.
He will occasionally jump at us. Idk exactly how to describe it because it always happens too quickly, but I know he's using his spurs (he got me on the leg today) and is being aggressive. When he does that, we chase after him and sometimes throw a stick if he was very aggressive to show him he's not boss. Idk if this is the best method, but I also don't know what else to do...He doesn't do it that often, but often enough that I watch him whenever we're in the fence because he's also gone after our toddler..
Is this just typical rooster behavior? I don't like having to keep an eye on him. I don't know how much good he does for his ladies, but he seems like a pretty protective guy to them. He does scare some of the hens off if he's eating, but others he doesn't mind if they're next to him. He has rounded them up under the chicken tractor before when there were predators. And once a hawk tried grabbing a hen and he went to help, but the hawk flew off.
So, should we just wait til Spring and get some eggs in the incubator and cull him too once we have another rooster? Or is he overall a good one? We've never had one before so I have no point of reference.
Thanks in advance!