Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[LaFemmeKatia]

If I am ever in a position where I need a rooster I am going to Shad for advice 1st. He has a number of roosters. They don't always get along but mostly they do & they respect him. I know it helps if a young cockerel has a mature *good* rooster to teach him, or lacking that mature hens who will put him in his place & teach him manners. The problem I see a lot is people have new, young flocks & the boys get rowdy [as boys do] & there's no~one who knows how to pull them in line. Not the chicken's fault but they pay the price.

So if I ever do get a rooster it would be good to wait until my girls are at least a year old, maybe.

 

[Ribh]

So if I ever do get a rooster it would be good to wait until my girls are at least a year old, maybe.

I'd probably wait a bit longer & make sure the girls have a really well established pecking order of their own then get a proven rooster who knows what he's doing & won't traumatise the girls too much. Then I'd consider bringing on a young cockerel but I'm not sure if that would be the best way to do it or not. Hence Shad...

 

[drstratton]

I don’t want a rooster either. I think about it sometimes, but I see what happens when roosters go bad, and I don’t want to have to deal with that. I don’t think I could cull my chickens.

I felt like I needed to have a rooster, since my flock has such a large free range area, to hopefully be the hens protector! I think everything should calm down out there once the silky roosters are gone...I don't know why, but they seem to be the most aggressive towards the hens and other roosters. My friend was supposed to give me hens, but I only got one of those and 2 roosters!

 

[drstratton]

Well, I am happy to report that Blanche blessed me with another egg today!
View attachment 2395923View attachment 2395924View attachment 2395925
Two eggs is an omelette! Lol. Breakfast tomorrow!

She is going to lay a lot of lovely eggs for you!

 

[drstratton]

If I am ever in a position where I need a rooster I am going to Shad for advice 1st. He has a number of roosters. They don't always get along but mostly they do & they respect him. I know it helps if a young cockerel has a mature *good* rooster to teach him, or lacking that mature hens who will put him in his place & teach him manners. The problem I see a lot is people have new, young flocks & the boys get rowdy [as boys do] & there's no~one who knows how to pull them in line. Not the chicken's fault but they pay the price.

I think raising them together made a difference with my boys...the Silkies were raised separately and I think that's why they tend to be more aggressive, they never have fully blended into the flock!

 

[Ribh]

I felt like I needed to have a rooster, since my flock has such a large free range area, to hopefully be the hens protector! I think everything should calm down out there once the silky roosters are gone...I don't know why, but they seem to be the most aggressive towards the hens and other roosters. My friend was supposed to give me hens, but I only got one of those and 2 roosters!

My very, very first lot of chickens [of 6] all began crowing @ once. I was very ignorant & very disappointed. They were also super aggressive. Best watch dogs ever but they couldn't stay.

 

[drstratton]

My very, very first lot of chickens [of 6] all began crowing @ once. I was very ignorant & very disappointed. They were also super aggressive. Best watch dogs ever but they couldn't stay.

Lol...that's too funny! Aggressive roosters are not fun to have around!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

She is going to lay a lot of lovely eggs for you!

I hope you are right.
And I believe my Buff Orpington (Buffy), and one of my Welsummers are going to start soon. They are showing all the signs.

 

[Ribh]

Lol...that's too funny! Aggressive roosters are not fun to have around!

They are not ~ & they are one reason I won't have roosters. I was ok with them but they attacked everyone & everything else.

 

[drstratton]

They are not ~ & they are one reason I won't have roosters. I was ok with them but they attacked everyone & everything else.

We won't keep an aggressive rooster...I say that, then there's the fact that Roo 2 went after my son, but he and the other roosters are never aggressive towards me! He stays out of the pen when they are out and about now, he's not afraid of them, he just doesn't want to have a need to put any of them down!