Just how useful is a rooster anyway?

[deeglenn]

That rooster sounds un-roosterish. Our rooster was accidental as well, but he turned out to be a "good boy" as in doesn't attack humans. He guards the flock well and has chased off a couple of possum and made a huge ruckus one night when a raccoon was trying to get the coop door open. He screeches when he sees hawks and they all run for cover. The rooster also makes sing-song clucking sounds when he finds bugs or something to treat the hens. So, I don't really know what to say of yours. Is he a pretty boy, at least?

 

[K813ZRA]

Meh, mine are good at sounding the alarm but as for actual protection maybe not so much. They are good for fertile eggs and comedic relief though.

 

[arrowti]

Personally I love roosters. But every rooster is different, with a wide variety of behaviors and reactions. Some are more useful than others.

The first Roo I had was a RIR Rooster given by a friend who couldn't have roos in his neighborhood. He was far too aggressive with both his hens and us, running to the edge of the fence and pacing angrily whenever he so much as saw someone walk outside. The hens were going bald, despite being 12 of them and one of him... so he became soup.

After trying to hatch eggs (12 hatched) we ended up with an even split. 6 roos, 6 hens. We kept 3 of the roos. One was a OEG bantam who thought he was the king of the flock (and he actually maintained king status among the 2 standards for 3 years). He was never people aggressive, and always responded to escort calls and protected lower-standing hens from bullies. Or at least, he tried to. In a flock of standards he could only do so much. The second was a standard. He ran from danger. Sometimes made an alarm call, sometimes didn't. He was pretty though and never people aggressive. He was actually very gentle. He was claimed last winter by severe frostbite on his legs. Then there was Vanilla. People aggressive, hen friendly, but with an incredible alarm call that we could hear no matter where we were in the house. This was important. One day a fox came on the property and I ran at it, and next thing I know Vanilla is shooting past me following the fox into the bushes. Luckily it was too intent on running from me to kill him.

We got 6 cockerels from his offspring this fall, and he was at the top of the flock. Unfortunately his people aggression only got worse while I moved away because of a job. He was slain this past week by an owl, of all things - it flew into the coop in the middle of the afternoon. Vanilla was found with his head missing, spurs soaked in blood. I like to 'think' his death was quick, and that he moved in front of the owl to protect the rest of the flock. I don't know, though. He was the only death.

Now his 6 sons, all young, beautiful cockerels are vying for the top spot. The bantam roo has been moved to the duck coop for his protection. 2 will be kept, the other 4 rehomed.

Unfortunately cockerels are simply too young to really know what they will turn out to be. None of them have been aggressive so far, but they're only 6 months old, and there's definitely time to change.

The most important thing a rooster can do (aside from breeding if you want chicks) is to raise a loud alarm whenever something is wrong. A rooster probably can't fight off a fox or hawk or owl, but if their alarm warns YOU something is happening you can definitely do something. I also love their appearances, and how they cluck to tell their hens there is something tasty on the ground. I also find that having a rooster keeps more bossy hens in line, and a good rooster may break up fights between hens that could result in trouble. Vanilla also protected his chicks from the more aggressive hens, allowing the entire flock to mingle as the chicks grew.

(on the other hand, you might just get a rooster that doesn't do anything useful...)

But remember, there is only ONE outcome to a rooster vs fox. Maybe the fox will take the rooster and not kill any hens. I would consider that a better outcome than losing a bunch of hens, although my preference would be not to lose anything.

 

[Chullicken]

I love roosters just because of what they are, but surely not needed for protection. Like mentioned above you'll read or have read the mythical tails of Le Gallant Simon rooster making the ultimate sacrifice...most of its wives tails and perception. Having kept several breeds/types of rooster I've yet to see one act like some noble guardian. My Icelandic was the first one to run away at any sign of trouble screaming his lungs off. So do you need one no, breeding sure, just because sure, protection...eh get a fence.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Please don't stop responding, though! You have one of the best understandings of flock dynamics I've come across, here. You've definitely helped me understand my roos better and as a result, they are happier (and longer lived!)
Oh ... and I have to add a goofy thought that has had me chuckling over the "Kill The Rooster!" description. Anyone remember that old Bugs Bunny cartoon where Elmer Fudd is stalking Bugs singing "Kill the Wabbit!"? I now have this visual/music worm stuck in my head of Elmer, carrying an axe instead of his oversized shotgun, singing "Kill the Wooster, kill the Wooster, Kill the WOOSTER!" I won't be able to walk past my coop with a straight face for DAYS!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

In defense of roosters. I have a lovely RIR rooster. I bought 6 chicks at the feed store. Although they were supposed to be all girls. It was clear that one was not like the others. So I kept him. Randy is a good roo. He stands guard while the girls enjoy the breakfast goodies. He keeps them from fighting and warns them when danger is near. He is a little rough on their feathers, but to be honest, it's been a long cold winter and they don't have cable in the coop. He is also very nice to me and will gently eat out of my hand, the girls get a little aggressive with me. If you don't like your rooster, then either re-home him or send him to freezer camp.
Baby pictures, he is much bigger now!

 

[Henrik Petersson]

He was slain this past week by an owl, of all things - it flew into the coop in the middle of the afternoon. Vanilla was found with his head missing, spurs soaked in blood. I like to 'think' his death was quick, and that he moved in front of the owl to protect the rest of the flock.

Wow, that's a first. Would you happen to know the species of owl? I would like to believe that our measly Swedish owls are too small to hunt a chicken, at least an adult one.

 

[arrowti]

Wow, that's a first. Would you happen to know the species of owl? I would like to believe that our measly Swedish owls are too small to hunt a chicken, at least an adult one.

My mom (the one who went in and saw it fly over her head to get out of the coop) said it looked like a Great Gray Owl. It was a bit of a weird thing, though. Winter is dragging, all the usual prey (squirrels, mice, etc) has disappeared. The owl was very thin. Poor thing was desperate. Haven't seen it in a few days, hopefully it found a rich food source somewhere else.

It wouldn't have been able to carry the rooster away. It was actually eating him inside the coop on the floor with the rest of the flock watching.

 

[ScottKelly1974]

Our roo was very attentive to his ladies. He always put himself between then and whatever he perceived to be a danger. Always kept an alert eye to predators and alerted, always let the ladies eat first, could not have asked for a better protector for the flock. Unfortunately he was an ass to the humans and made is last mistake with me last week. We are struggling with whether we need another roo or not.

Two of the roosters I raised and mentioned do bite me, however I grab them right away. They quickly learned not to attack me but they still bite. I also have two pullets who like to bite. This is helpful for protection of the flock. I'm interested in seeing what the chicks will be like.

If your rooster is good with your flock, then keeping him should be best. You can always respond to his bad behavior towards you, teaching him what is not acceptable.

 

[Gray Farms]

I would guess you don't have flying predators where you live. We will not be without a rooster, if ours dies or is killed we immediately post we need a roo. Two fought to the death, one with a neighbors gd hunting dog that got out and one with a coyote. We free range during the day and the hens rarely look up from their pecking, the roo herds them under stuff if he see's what he takes to be a danger. We have bald eagles, 2/3 different hawks, osprey and vultures that fly over and in 10 yrs. have not lost a bird to a bird of prey. We do crack up when he herds them under something and we look up and see a sm. private plane, he's just making sure.

I have many aerial predators. Eagles, crows, hawks, owls. All my pens have secure tops due to predators. Not just flying but climbing predators like racoons. Protective roosters are not a guarantee, but secure pens are.