Potentially raising my first rooster! Advice needed!

[BigBlueHen53]

That's perfect! Who's a good boy!

 

[CabritaChicks]

I'm going through something similar, well exactly this—pretty sure I’ve got a rooster- some sort of splash marans/leghorn mix, and I just can’t bring myself to part with him. He’s so sweet, goofy and looks totally unique.

Quick question though:

Do you let your rooster sleep in the coop with the hens at night? (Ours all free-range in the forest during the day and they tuck themselves in at night) Or should he stay outside the coop?

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes he should be in the coup at night! He should stay with his girls all the time.

Do you have a very small coop? Maybe I am not understanding your question, why would you think he should not be in the coop?

Mrs k

 

[Folly's place]

x2!
Mary

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If he sleeps outside the coop, IMO it won't be long before you don't have a rooster.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I have 7 chickens (including the potential roo in question). Right now they are all together, live, eat, play.

They free range all day (dawn till dust), couple acres of jungle forest on the sea (and food forest). The coop is 4x12 (I needed extra walk-in space due to my medical condition).

Some people comment that they keep their rooster in a separate area in multiple articles/forums and videos. I wasn't sure why?

Here is them yesterday in the more open portion of the property. PLENTY of room with feeding stations all over the property and plenty of foraging opportunities:

Edit: I also may have another roo- that one will definitely be re-homed no question about it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Some people comment that they keep their rooster in a separate area in multiple articles/forums and videos. I wasn't sure why?

If the rooster is beating up on the hens or attacking you then yes, separate him. Or if people have multiple cockerels and they are terrorizing the pullets, yes, separate. But if you have one rooster and he is good to the girls there is no need to separate.

 

[CabritaChicks]

If the rooster is beating up on the hens or attacking you then yes, separate him. Or if people have multiple cockerels and they are terrorizing the pullets, yes, separate. But if you have one rooster and he is good to the girls there is no need to separate.

Thank you! I was worried I needed to build a second coop or 'holding area'. I definitely didnt want that as it would mean I would need to cut down trees (most on the property are edible trees- so that would be horrible). I was just curious and couldn't seem to get a good enough consensus online.

 

[fluffycrow]

Some people comment that they keep their rooster in a separate area in multiple articles/forums and videos. I wasn't sure why?

Adding to BigBlueHen53’s comment: Some people who do not appreciate their males crowing early in the morning will also choose to separate them at night, and keep them in a dark area, away from the rest. The goal is to keep him from crowing by making him think that it’s still night, and that there are no noises he needs to respond to by crowing.

I have no personal experience with this, but I have seen it being recommended

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I don't know if this is correct or not, but the saying 'boys will be boys' seems to ring true with my two cockerels. Since there are two of them they have each other to spar with and work out their 'teenage aggression' on.

Sparring is completely normal and healthy behavior for cockerels. Sparring, actual fighting and human aggression are all completely different things from one another. The most kind and noble of roosters will spar in their youth, just as will the most horrible of monsters. However the bad ones will eventually start attacking people and/or abusing chickens at some point