Mother Hen or quiet Roo?

[jbtaylor1967]

We’re completely in love with our RIR Hybrid “Mama Donie” (named after my Mom’s grandmother). Donie watches out for the smaller chickens, (all our flock member are 8 weeks old) making sure they go into the coop at night.
2 of the flock are confirmed boys-crowing like crazy—but what do ya’ll think about Mama Donie?

 

[itspebbl]

Just verifying, he/she is 8 weeks old? If so, Mama Donie is definitely a Papa Donie!

 

[jbtaylor1967]

Just verifying, he/she is 8 weeks old? If so, Mama Donie is definitely a Papa Donie!

Yes! (Mama) Donie is also 8 weeks old, but no crowing—yet...

 

[jbtaylor1967]

Just for fun—this is the sweetest chick—Cyrus—who was born with an offset beak. She & Donie love to sit

in laps!

 

[itspebbl]

Yes, certainly a cockerel. Pullets don't have a huge, red comb and wattles at 8 weeks!
Aw! Cyrus looks really sweet!

 

[jbtaylor1967]

Yes, certainly a cockerel. Pullets don't have a huge, red comb and wattles at 8 weeks!
Aw! Cyrus looks really sweet!

Oh NO! That makes 3 boys (AT LEAST) that we know of now. But we love them all so much, we’re probably just going to have to deal with it!
Thank you SOO much for the advice!!

 

[itspebbl]

Happy to help! Beware, it is best to kind of treat cockerels with a "hands-off" mentality from what I have read on the site, so that they do not think they are over you in the pecking order. Also, as they get older, they may fight, but it isn't unheard of for roosters to work together in teams, although it's rare. It may be best to consider a few more hens so that they aren't overbred (around 6 hens per rooster is a good ratio). However it is possible to have a good multiple rooster flock, so I hope it works out great for you! Sounds like you have an awesome flock growing up under your care!

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'd keep Donnie, if you plan on keeping a (EDT: single) rooster. He sounds like a very good boy, as long as he doesn't go people-aggressive when older.

 

[jbtaylor1967]

I'd keep Donnie, if you plan on keeping a (EDT: single) rooster. He sounds like a very good boy, as long as he doesn't go people-aggressive when older.

So are you and ECS saying it’s better if we don’t handle him so much?

 

[sylviethecochin]

So are you and ECS saying it’s better if we don’t handle him so much?

I'm with the hands-off approach to rooster raising. This can be adjusted, of course, depending on flock ages, breeds, and your available space.

Cochin roosters are not usually people aggressive, nor are game roosters. Production birds like Production Reds, ISAs, Barred Rocks...they're pretty commonly aggressive. If they're being raised around older roosters, they're slower to develop and much gentler long-term. And of course, a rooster raised in a small space is much likelier to be rude than a rooster raised in a large space is.

Many people do raise nice roosters and pet them too. I personally find that this approach is less effective than an approach of mutual respect.