Maximize rooster size?

[NorthTexasWink]

Daytime I'd go with some type of pugnacious game cock. Nighttime no rooster is protective, since all chickens go sort of comatose in the dark.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I've ordered some Jersey Giant roosters to keep an eye on the laying hens. Are there some specific steps and things I can feed to ensure they grow to as large and intimidating a size as possible? We've had a few instances where the kids left the gate open at night and lost some hens lately. Obviously that can't keep happening but I want to do as much as I can to give them some protection if something does get in. Thanks

No rooster will protect the flock in the middle of the night. They are all essentially helpless after dark. I would put the flock on multi flock. What breed are your hens? One thing to keep in mind is that you should match the size of roo to the size of the hen, in terms of breeding. A JG would not make a good mate for a bantam, or even the lighter weight EE, sex links, or leghorns.

Dynamite comes in small packages. Just because a rooster is big and intimidating to a human's eye doesn't mean that that rooster can keep his harem safe. In fact the exact opposite is the truth. When a fox let's say, sees a trim and atheistic rooster he sees trouble but when he spies a big old fluffy butt rooster who needs a trampoline just to get his feet off the ground that fox instead sees Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

[lazy gardener]

Keep in mind that what ever you get for a roo, he's gonna be playing in the gene pool. So, if you want a DP flock that will dress out future cockerels with a decent sized carcass, order a DP cockerel. As for that matter, people are giving away cockerels all the time. If biosecurity is not a big issue to you, save your money and pick up a cockerel that some one else has fed for X number of weeks. Or even pick up a seasoned roo who is being replaced. He will already know how to woo the ladies, and he will already have developed his flock master skills, including protecting his harem.