Keeping a rooster pros and cons

[gabz44]

Hi I have 6 (3 month old chickens-4 silkies-1 buff Orphinton-1 Easter Egger)

I am certain I have 1 silkie rooster (he's crowing) and pretty sure I have another which would leave me with 4 hens 2 roosters. I was considering keeping 1 rooster but I'm a first time chicken owner and do not know the pros and cons. I am hoping to get eggs for eating from my hens when they are old enough but I do not want chicks. Any advice ?

 

[AuntNomi]

Hi

I have 6 (3 month old chickens-4 silkies-1 buff Orphinton-1 Easter Egger)

I am certain I have 1 silkie rooster (he's crowing) and pretty sure I have another which would leave me with 4 hens 2 roosters. I was considering keeping 1 rooster but I'm a first time chicken owner and do not know the pros and cons. I am hoping to get eggs for eating from my hens when they are old enough but I do not want chicks. Any advice ?

If you do not want chicks, I would not keep the roos. Silkies are known for their broodiness, so IMO you would most likely end up with chicks. I like to keep a roo because I have a really great one that alerts for danger and my flock can get to cover. But I do realize that when a bad enough threat comes along it only means that my roo will probably be the one that dies first. Other then that roos are good for making fertile eggs, which you do not have a desire for. Good luck!

 

[Pork Pie]

This is just my experience, but my two roos were good at alarm raising, but protection - no. Between my alpha hen and the local squirrels, they do what my roos used to do and my flock is a lot happier sans roo (and so am i).

All the best
CT

 

[aart]

Hi

I have 6 (3 month old chickens-4 silkies-1 buff Orphinton-1 Easter Egger)

I am certain I have 1 silkie rooster (he's crowing) and pretty sure I have another which would leave me with 4 hens 2 roosters. I was considering keeping 1 rooster but I'm a first time chicken owner and do not know the pros and cons. I am hoping to get eggs for eating from my hens when they are old enough but I do not want chicks. Any advice ?

Cock/erels can either be really cool or several different kinds of pain the butt.
If you don't want fertile eggs for hatching, there's no reason to have a male bird IMO.
With only 4 females 2 males is not a good ratio.

If you're new to chicken keeping, not having a males will make your experience less troublesome and probably more enjoyable.

 

[torilovessmiles]

Roosters can be great, or they can be a nightmare, depending on what you want. If you want your own chicks, you need one, but if you're wanting to keep him as a pet, it's a little iffy. Personally, my yard would not be complete without my roosters. I love hearing them crow every morning (and all day!). But I live out in the country with a bunch of old people as neighbors who also love hearing them crow, so that makes a big difference!

My Alpha rooster can be aggressive on occasion, but I tolerate it because he does his job better than any other rooster. He fiercely protects his girls, and has actually saved them a couple times, he keeps me in fertile eggs, he's gentle with the hens. He's even accepting of young cockerels, as long as they stay in their place. I've never seen him start a fight with one, he only defends his place and the hens from unwilling mating.

However, I don't have kids, and I can't let kids near him if they come over because he has spurred and bit me several times, usually when trying to pick up a hen. It can take over a year to see a rooster's true personality as well. Mellow cockerels may grow into aggressive cocks, and aggressive cockerels into gentlemen. The teen phase is really tough to get through, and without an older male to keep them in line, you may have to separate them for a few weeks until the hens catch up and the testosterone settles down.