Mean cock... went to freezer camp, interesting find inside!

[Sams Backyard Flock]

So, FINALLY hubby and I got around to culling a 1yr old cock that went after our 3yr old. He was penned up immediately and awaited his “field trip“. We decided to do his full brother who did not produce well for me this year. I have SO. MANY. COCKERELS. this year! No shortage of nice replacements for next year. Anyways, when I compared the 2 brothers the ”Meanie” had noticeably larger testicles even though his full brother was much larger then him. Probably the increase in testosterone was the cause of his aggressive behavior? Maybe? Interesting find at least! I have a couple of his chicks growing out. They will be watched closely for any “cocky“ behavior.
picture of “Meanie”

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Wow he looks so much like our Happy. But Happy is only 19 weeks. He matured early and started crowing at 12 weeks. Meanie was handsome.

 

[chickenmomma16]

@aart

No, it was not our first processing. It was however the first of my Wheaten Ameraucana projects to be processed by us. I have previously found pet homes for any of my past breeders. Pulling him from the pen and not hatching any more of his chicks was a blow to my 2020 breeding plans. He was my backup cock and I was using him because his brother was not producing well for me. Didn’t like what I was seeing in the brother’s chicks. I was stressing because it messed up my plans this year having to cull both him and his brother.
I hope I did the right thing.

 

[McChooky]

So, FINALLY hubby and I got around to culling a 1yr old cock that went after our 3yr old. He was penned up immediately and awaited his “field trip“. We decided to do his full brother who did not produce well for me this year. I have SO. MANY. COCKERELS. this year! No shortage of nice replacements for next year. Anyways, when I compared the 2 brothers the ”Meanie” had noticeably larger testicles even though his full brother was much larger then him. Probably the increase in testosterone was the cause of his aggressive behavior? Maybe? Interesting find at least! I have a couple of his chicks growing out. They will be watched closely for any “cocky“ behavior.
picture of “Meanie”

View attachment 2292172

If it wasn't cheaper to buy day old pullets than hatching my own I'd keep a rooster but having too many roos is a royal pain if you don't eat them! He was a looker for sure!

 

[McChooky]

I've processed a lot of chickens. The dominant cockerel/rooster always has the biggest testicles. Sometimes they're mean, sometimes they're just loud, sometimes really just in good with the ladies.

Young cockerels are almost never good with young pullets, unless they have an older rooster or hen to teach them. I person don't worry about it because they grow out of that phase eventually. My frizzled cochin was great with the girls but a jerk to humans. Normally I'd cull but he was so small and handsome I held off. He's an awesome rooster now at 3ish years old. He will get in a tizzy if you mess with his ladies too much or reach for him but otherwise we respect each others space.

Too bad most people don't have an older roosters around to teach the young ones how to act but its good to know they learn on their own eventually! Shame the best ones aren't always as good with humans as they are the ladies but roosters don't like anything more than their girls!LOL When we was growing up as kids our dad never let us mess with his chickens.His roosters would get in a tizzy if we did too. His roosters tolerated all of us long as we left them alone but the first time we tried to catch the hens and pet them we got flogged!LOl

 

[McChooky]

Hi all, Interesting thread! Well, to me anyways....love rooster talk.
So maybe you folks can chime in on my delima. I promise not to pirate this thread too much... right.
DH finally gave into letting me have a roo. Picked up a looker and he was good. The most A.D.D. rooster I have ever seen. He had to have his girls in order, he knew where they were at all times and they had to do what he said. Was pretty funny. But he started to cause a ruckus, usually @ 2am and he would get the whole flock going. Then he would do it again at 4, then 6... So, after a few months of this and it getting worse... I found him a good home with a few acres and let a few of his favorite girls go with him. my back up roo became my #1 guy and me and the gals LOVED him. Everything quieted down, total peace and harmony, he was a wonderful, kind perfect boy. But a few months later he died suddenly. Probably starvation and heat because he gave the girls everything and it got pretty hot for a few days??? I tried everything to revive him but... . So then... I have a handsome cockerel from roo #1 and my girls really like him... and he is young but he is loud.. all the time... dad loud... drama, drama, drama loud. So, I found him a good home with a few acres too. (no, not freezer camp acres lol)
I then went and purchased us a handsome 2 yo silky/americana roo from a good home. After quarantine, he started out pretty good with the ladies, I only have 9 hens, 7- 2mo pullets, 2 2mo-cockerels and 13 chicks (and 1- 4 month old cockerel). Except he hates my alfa hen or now ex-alfa BR hen and her BR bestie. He does not mate them but he makes them submit and chases them away from the rest of the flock. I have had him for a few months now and it has gotten more obvious. The BR's are getting frazzled and I don't like that they don't get to be chillin with the rest of the flock. I do have a back-up roo... I'm just getting tired of the rotating door, are my expectations too high? Coop and run are big and they freerange pretty much all day. They want for nothing- I am their beck and call person. Do I continue to wait this out hoping he and BR's will sort this out or can I cage him for a bit and knock him down a few pegs?
Flock dynamics. Note BR's... watching him and never around.
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He likes other gals fine- american's best.
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Poor Indie is keeping distance on top of deck chair, Mazzie ready to bolt. Is this a breed thing? Could he prejudice against stripes?
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Mahalo wise rooster peeps. Much appreciated. I've been dying to ask this long winded question for awhile now.
Sorry so long, it happens lol

If you watch who roosts beside who you'll find some chickens just don't like some chickens and won't roost beside them."Birds of a feather flock together"!

 

[chickenmomma16]

Wow, interesting that this thread was resurrected, I was just thinking about this cock I sent to the freezer. I’m happy to report the only chick I kept from him was a cockerel and and he has a great temperment. Lots of chicks on the ground from him this year! I will however always be looking for any aggressiveness in this particular line.

 

[McChooky]

I just wanted to say that he reminds me of a renaissance painting of a war general (or something)

He looks absolutely majestic in this photo.He was a proud bird.