Not Sure I Can Handle Having Roosters

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

For several years i just had hens, as we lived in Los Angeles and were not allowed to have roosters. Now that we are in Northern California on enough land, i have tried having roosters. First one i wanted to keep started crowing and never stopped. My husband's ears lopped over and he begged me to get rid of it, so i did. Then i bought a pair of D'Uccles. The roo had an okay crow and wasn't too mean when he mated (although the hen did squawk her disapproval). But i rehomed them as i wanted to concentrate on my silkies and showgirls.

Did a lot of hatching this Spring, so now have some gorgeous roosters. At four months, they are starting to try to mate the pullets in their cage. The favorite is a Mille Fleur D'Uccle, probably because she is lame and can't get away fast enough. But the screaming . . . . is very distressing. And honestly, chickens mating is not a very romantic sight. It starts and ends with a sharp peck on the head. And i can't imagine there is a hen alive who likes it.

i realize this is all just nature taking its course, but i don't think i'm cut out for it. It may just have to be a girl's club here, unless one of my younger roosters turns out to have manners. i wonder if that's possible.

 

[Uppity Peon]

All I have to offer is that to me, the crowing is a noise you get used to and tune out, just as people in the city get used to the sound of sirens and traffic.

You don't need a rooster if you are not looking for fertile eggs to hatch, but they do have a role to play in protecting the flock.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well, i had been thinking i wanted to breed silkies and showgirls. That was my whole point in doing a bunch of hatching, and i have several gorgeous roosters. It's just the girls screaming that frazzles me.

i actually like the sound of most rooster crows. It was just that one that drove my husband crazy, as he crowed nonstop. And i do like the idea of having a rooster for protection. When we had that D'Uccle roo, he was Mr. Eagle-Eye when it came to predators. He would call out a warning way before i or the girls saw a hawk in the area.

Maybe i just need to separate these roosters until the girls get bigger. They are at least 3-4 months away from laying anyways.

 

[cozycritters]

Hens don't like young roosters.

My MIL processed some of our young roosters (illegal here for us to own them) and one, headless, flew up out of the bucket she dropped him in and across the yard. Immediately all of her hens attacked him with a 'down with roosters!' fervor. It was hilarious! When they realized he was already dead, they left him alone.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Wow, sounds like she almost had a Mike the famous Headless Chicken there.

So, perhaps i should keep these inexperienced young dudes in a separate pen for a few months and they can practice on their own?

 

[Katy]

Chicken...or any animal sex for that matter is not going to be "romantic" so even if you keep the roos away while they're young not much is going to change except the hens will probably be more willing when they become mature. There's still gonna be a lot of squwaking going on no matter what.

 

[Jameberlin]

Once the roosters get older, they'll figure out what's up and mating will be over pretty quick with little or no sqwaking.

My pullets protest more when i'm not feeding them treats than they do when they're being mounted (now, anyway!).

 

[hikerchick]

Maybe you can give the roo a credit card to buy candy and flowers. It might make things go more smoothly.

 

[SproutGirl]

Yeah, your roos will grow up and learn how to be roosters. They'll get more graceful with the hens, and even find treats for them. As for the mating, you probably won't ever find it to be romantic because you are a human, not a chicken. There might be something wrong with you if you were into chicken sex!

As for the crowing, it won't ever stop. Hopefully you and your husband (who you hopefully find romantic!) will eventually consider the crowing to be funny, charming, and rustic. If not, you can have a happy and healthy all-girls flock. Good luck!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
i'm not sure i would trust them with my credit card. i may end up with thousands of dollars in charges for mealworms, yogurt, and lettuce . . . which the hens just might find more enticing.