New Chicken Keeper!

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healz13

healz13

In the Brooder
6 Years
Joined
Jul 13, 2013
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Location
Ontario, Canada
Hi! I am the proud owner of five barred rocks! They hatched in my colleagues classroom and have been loved by my students since day one! They are now in my backyard in a coop and they free range in the day. They are sooo friendly and funny!! Haven't sexed them ( they are almost seven weeks) and I'm only keeping the hens:(. I have eight acres so neighbours aren't close but heard you shouldn't keep roosters if only needing eggs. Thoughts?
 
We have a son who has a heart condition and actually fertilized chicken eggs are awesome for your heart! You will read differing opinions on this but we are working with the top cardiologist in the nation and he and his colleagues have done studies on fertilized eggs... I'm new to chickens and just got our rooster last week! Looking forward to the benefits of fertilized eggs! Go for it! They are absolutely one of the best foods for your body!
 
Greetings from Kansas, healz13, and
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! Pleased you joined us! There is nothing wrong with a flock rooster (some folks swear by them!) as long as they don't overbreed or abuse the hens or are mean to you. Roosters are sometimes good in keeping the pecking order in line - so the hens don't squabble as much. Some claim - and have stories to back it up - how their rooster saved the hens (sometimes losing his life in the process) protecting them from a predator. I think if you get such a rooster that will "take one for the team," it is money well spent keeping him fed, in my opinion. It is fair to say, however, a lot of roosters head for the hills at the first sign of danger, leaving the hens to fend for themselves. Another benefit is if you ever want to try your hand at incubating or hatching - or if you have a hen go broody - he'll give you fertilized eggs. And there is no difference in the taste, appearance, or nutrition of fertilized eggs. And they are generally a very handsome bird to have around!
 
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auxranch said:
We have a son who has a heart condition and actually fertilized chicken eggs are awesome for your heart! You will read differing opinions on this but we are working with the top cardiologist in the nation and he and his colleagues have done studies on fertilized eggs... I'm new to chickens and just got our rooster last week! Looking forward to the benefits of fertilized eggs! Go for it! They are absolutely one of the best foods for your body!
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That is very interesting. Anything published on this? I'd love to read up on it!! Thanks.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan
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I agree with Redsox. I have noticed that my hens tend to stay closer together and do not roam as far when they have a rooster watching over them. Plus I like my roosters, they are beautiful and good-tempered.
 
:welcome You can have roosters if you are only raising chickens for eggs. They do more than just fertilize eggs. They help keep your hens safe from predators, and keep the hens in line too. You just don't want a rooster that shows any aggression towards you or your hens.

Good luck with your chickens! If you need help sexing your barred rocks you can always post some pictures in the, "What Breed/Gender Is This" thread, and we will be able to help you. :)
 
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Lots of bad roosters that end up in freezer camp or soup pot. There are many good roosters - widely available -needing to be rehomed because of zoning restrictions,. Some of them very good quality pure breds for low prices or free. Never a good reason to keep an aggressive rooster or breed to one.

Once you have 20 posts you can participate on the BYC Buy,sell,trade forum - which also has a section for animals that need to be rehomed (free)
 

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