Keep the rooster?

[notsooldmcdonald]

Hi-

I'm rotating out my old flock and raising a new one. My current rooster and I have an understanding, we 'get' each other (esp. when I have the leaf rake

) and he's nice to the girls. My question is, should I keep him rather than ordering another roo with the new group? He'll have to be kept pretty isolated during the summer until the little ones are big enough to deal with his advances.

I really just need him to watch the girls while they're free ranging, but he's matured well and hasn't attacked me yet this spring. Any new rooster would be either a sliver laced wyandotte or an ameraucauna (I've no idea if they tend to be friendly). All my chicks/ens are handled daily and often.

Thanks!
-Christian

 

[buckaroo's wife]

I don't really have any words of advice on this because I'm new to chickens....but I do have a question: I have been letting my 4 (now 5, as of yesterday!) girls free range during the day. We're on 5 acres and they don't seem to travel far, and prefer to stay in the back with our horses. I don't have a rooster....is one necessary? Haven't gotten one because I don't want to put up with the attitude, but I worry a little about the girls during the day.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Regardless of breed tendencies, there are good and bad roosters in every breed. If you are dealing with one rooster, there is no telling what you are going to get. If you are happy with what you have, I'd suggest trying to keep him.

A rooster offers some protection to the hens. A good one (not all are good) will give his life in defense of his hens. He will sometimes run predators off but he really does not have a great chance against many of the bigger predators. A rooster seems to spend more of his time watching for hawks and such than the hens do. That said, often in a flock without a rooster one of the hens will kind of take over some of his duties. Not that she will voluntarily give her life in defense of the others, but take on more of the watching duties. In my opinion, whether you have a rooster is a personal decision when you legally have that option. The only reason you have to have a rooster is if you are going to hatch the eggs. The rest is your choice.

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

My personal experience has been that he is incredibly watchful and has consistently put aside his own needs in the place of theirs. We've had two hawk attacks while we were home (and a couple when we weren't), and he's ushered them to safety. I've also observed him keeping close tabs on any stragglers. He works very hard!

-C

 

[gryeyes]

I would keep the same rooster, but that's just me. You have the "understanding" already established.

As for buckaroo's wife's question about NEEDING a rooster or not, my personal opinion is to get a rooster. (I didn't have that opinion until I started raising my chickens and got an "accidental roo" in the bunch.) You have enough space so it seems the neighbors wouldn't be bothered by rooster crowing, which is the only real negative in my chicken keeping book.

Roosters cannot PREVENT predation, but they're very good about alerting the girls to danger so they can skedaddle to safety (or stand stock still until the danger is over, whichever is appropriate in their minds). They stop squabbles in the flock, tend to round up stragglers, and they're great "eye candy" in the flock!

There are other positives. My rooster doesn't have an attitude. Oh, he crows mightily and often, but he knows *I* am the at the top of the pecking order, even above him.

 

[Mervin]

notsooldmcdonald

I'm not that experienced, so take what I contribute with a grain of salt. If you're not concerned about breeding and type and all that and you have a decent roo, I'm not sure I'd roll the dice. There is no telling what the one you get might be like. Like they say, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." You might have to raise two or three to make sure you get one good one.

That said, you might keep a few of the older ladies around for him throughout the summer though. It would probably drive him bonkers to not have anybody to "play" with until your new chick came of age, so to speak.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

Thanks for all the advice (sorry to hijack your post Christian!) My husband was fairly adamant about not wanting a roo (noise, etc.) but I sure would like one for flock protecting. I'm not planning on raising eggs....Is it harder to introduce a rooster to an existing flock?

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

Mervin-

That's a great idea I hadn't thought of! Thanks!
-C

 

[Lollipop]

I definately would keep the mature cock. And since he is a mature cock, he will not hurt the little ones. As a matter of fact, he will nurture them and take good care of them. Much experience in this matter. Of course there are exceptions, but 99% of the mature cocks are good with youngsters. You will be way ahead with the old boy. The older girls, on the other hand, will give the youngsters a really bad time.......Pop

 

[JestersEye]

I actually have too many roos in our flock at the moment... but they all get along with no real fighting, so it's still working out okay. Since the roos spend more time watching for danger, it's actually kinda nice to have more "eyes on the skies" since we have a lot of hawks around here lately. I like the way the roosters take care of the girls, so as long as they don't cause problems I'm an advocate of getting one or a couple roosters (as long as they get along with each other).