New to chicken raising, is my chicken a rooster?

[missnu01]

It's definitely a rooster, and sometimes roosters will flog children if the children are chasing the hens and such... my youngest got flogged one time and stopped being mean and scary to the chickens. I got flogged when I was little by a really big hateful rooster that often flogged people for no reason, but he did flog me while I was scouting out a new batch of chicks. I just wanted to see them. I would never not have a rooster. For one I sell chicks..2 I love roosters. Their noises, their colors. Their what's the word...devotion.. to their hens. The fact that a good rooster would die for any one of his flock just touches me way down deep inside. Does that also mean he is sometimes a bully, or sometimes takes what he wants? Yes, but he will also call the hens over for treats and watch while they eat them. I just find the rooster to hen relationship fascinating. He will kill for them, and if necessary die to protect him... and if the rooster does die for them all the hens take right up with the next rooster in line. Lol. But still...

 

[Finny303]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I am a little worried. What does flog mean? When does a rooster become a mean rooster? Do I have to separate the hens from the rooster later? Seems like a friendly bird now but does that change? Will the rooster try to mate with all the birds? And I also heard that the act is quite violent appearing, is that so? Something I would not want my four-year- old or two year old to see ya know? Sorry about all the questions. Just learning here. Oh and we live super close to our neighbors. Are they going to hate us soon if they start waking up to rooster?

 

[LRH97]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I am a little worried. What does flog mean? When does a rooster become a mean rooster? Do I have to separate the hens from the rooster later? Seems like a friendly bird now but does that change? Will the rooster try to mate with all the birds? And I also heard that the act is quite violent appearing, is that so? Something I would not want my four-year- old or two year old to see ya know? Sorry about all the questions. Just learning here. Oh and we live super close to our neighbors. Are they going to hate us soon if they start waking up to rooster?

Flogging is when a roo will try and attack you with his spurs. It can be pretty painful, depending on how large the spurs are, and will break skin if the bird is old enough. A roo is most unstable before he is a year old, when his, well, hormones start going. The disposition of the bird could change once he hits sexual maturity. They sort of even out after a year or so. To a small child, the act of mating could appear violent. He will grab the hen's hackles and mount her, but it is over rather quickly. Some hens are more submissive than others. You'll just simply have to ask your neighbors if the crowing will be a problem. For me, roos are worth having around, but if you have a small child, I may suggest re homing him or not letting the child into the coop without very close supervision. If he becomes aggressive, re home quickly. In my ten years of raising chickens, I've only had a handful of roos that have wound up in the pot because of aggressive behavior, however. And, I want to say give him a chance, because so many males are butchered or re homed just for being male. Roos are lovely additions to any flock, but if you were unfortunate enough to get a nasty one, I would hate for the victim to be your child.

 

[gander007]

Alright