Murderous cockerel

[TheOddOneOut]

Now saying that would be good......but citing numbers is misleading.

Yup, sorry.

 

[Studabird]

I really appreciate all the responses. I would like to add two more things: 1) It is my dream to in my retirement open a rooster rescue. 2) and probably more importantly the second cockerel has been a complete gentleman to the hens since the first lost his mind. He has never been a forceful bird and is now making sure to take care of them. My daughters thought as some of you all do that the other one would follow in his brother’s shoes but after several hours of their protective watch... and I do mean hours everyone has agreed that “Oreo” is the perfect gentleman.

The short of it is that I will and have been watching them very closely. If he goes crazy I will separate him as well. Neither of them will be harvested for bad behavior. I am not opposed to eating birds as the 17 turkeys I am raising for meat will soon attest but I will not take birds I have promised to my daughters as “Legacies” (Pets) and just discard them for bad behavior. “Jewel” and his brother “Oreo” will die of old age.

 

[Studabird]

I am also concerned about your other two statements. That you feed him by hand, which means that he is not afraid of you and has no respect for you. In my experience, this bird will become human aggressive with a bit more time. Also the incessant crowing when you are present is another indicator of oncoming aggression.

As for now, I would also pull the second cockerel, and keep them both separate from the pullets, adding back one later on when the all the pullets are laying.

Do be aware that roosters are a crap shoot, maybe the second rooster would turn out, but maybe he won't. Be aware around roosters, and if you need to, don't keep either, try again. Roosters are easy to come by.

MRs K

Only the “bad” cockerel crows and as for the eating out of my hand all of them do it. They have been hand fed since they were under the heat lamp. Also, I have a great deal of experience with animal husbandry. I have raised livestock for most of my life. Granted it was mammals and not poultry but animal behavior seems to be fairly consistent. Display dominance and never back down from a challenge. It has faired me well with 500lb pigs and 100 lb dogs and sheep and goats.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

If he were mine, I'd butcher him, toot sweet.

 

[Folly's place]

Think 'Angus bulls', not being the same as trained oxen. And before doing 'rooster rescue', read up on biosecurity as it relates to chickens, specifically, where introducing one apparently healthy bird can infect your entire population, for more than a year.
Mary

 

[Araucana Nest]

Your care and concern for the cockerel is commendable. Rescue work is hard, thankless and expensive: persevere. There are many good roosters in the world that simply don't have the good fortune to land in a permanent home. I struggle with these decisions. Can't say that I don't butcher roosters.... I'd like not to. I'm a vegetarian... but the facts point me toward too many roosters and my LGDs are cared for as well as I'm able. Sad fact is that many don't meet the criteria for improving their breed and some are just downright dangerous in a yard - It would be great if someone could properly allow them a full life.

 

[Studabird]

The Rooster Rescue is a ten year plan. I am not so arrogant to believe someone raising chickens for 5 months has any business opening a rescue. But having raised pigs commercially for almost 10 years I am well aware of bio security. I would do it on at least a fifteen acre farm of which there would be a large quarantine area before introducing them to any more permanent flock. I am not against harvesting birds it is actually in my plan to do so with Buff Brahmas as I would like to raise them to SOP and with any SOP flock culling will be involved. But I got these chickens as pets as such they will be treated as pets. Again I would like to thank everyone for all the advice it has helped tremendously. The BYC community has been there for me yet again and I hope to return the favor.

 

[Folly's place]

Buff Brahmas are beautiful! I've had the bantams, and loved them, such nice birds.
Mary

 

[Studabird]

Buff Brahmas are beautiful! I've had bantams and loved them, such nice birds.
Mary
The Buffs were mislabeled at TSC and they were the happiest accident since my first daughter. Once I saw the feathered feet I was in love. They are the coolest birds and I can’t wait to develop them into the SOP and send them to loving homes

 

[aart]

they were the happiest accident since my first daughter.