Pros and Cons of Roosters

[Susan Skylark]

The idea of a flock raised rooster turning out the best behavior wise is intriguing, we see the same issues with bulls in cattle. Dairy bulls are notoriously nasty, being bottle raised they have no fear of people and are perfectly happy to kill you for no reason. Beef bulls are raised by the cow in the herd and rarely cause problems if you use basic common sense around cattle. Even bottle raised kittens and foals have issues, the mare has no problem whomping the little bugger when he bites or kicks, but the human foster raiser doesn’t have the heart and you get a cat that bites or a spoiled pony you can’t do a thing with. I think there is a lesson for human parents and teachers as well, without wise discipline our own kids will likewise grow up with issues that affect whole generations and our society at large. We are quickly becoming a society of rogue roosters, wow that’s more philosophical than this post was meant to contain!

 

[redinator]

The idea of a flock raised rooster turning out the best behavior wise is intriguing, we see the same issues with bulls in cattle. Dairy bulls are notoriously nasty, being bottle raised they have no fear of people and are perfectly happy to kill you for no reason. Beef bulls are raised by the cow in the herd and rarely cause problems if you use basic common sense around cattle. Even bottle raised kittens and foals have issues, the mare has no problem whomping the little bugger when he bites or kicks, but the human foster raiser doesn’t have the heart and you get a cat that bites or a spoiled pony you can’t do a thing with. I think there is a lesson for human parents and teachers as well, without wise discipline our own kids will likewise grow up with issues that affect whole generations and our society at large. We are quickly becoming a society of rogue roosters, wow that’s more philosophical than this post was meant to contain!

I think you summed up the 'issues' of nearly a whole generation, lol.

 

[BonnieBlue]

The idea of a flock raised rooster turning out the best behavior wise is intriguing, we see the same issues with bulls in cattle. Dairy bulls are notoriously nasty, being bottle raised they have no fear of people and are perfectly happy to kill you for no reason. Beef bulls are raised by the cow in the herd and rarely cause problems if you use basic common sense around cattle. Even bottle raised kittens and foals have issues, the mare has no problem whomping the little bugger when he bites or kicks, but the human foster raiser doesn’t have the heart and you get a cat that bites or a spoiled pony you can’t do a thing with. I think there is a lesson for human parents and teachers as well, without wise discipline our own kids will likewise grow up with issues that affect whole generations and our society at large. We are quickly becoming a society of rogue roosters, wow that’s more philosophical than this post was meant to contain!

Relating it to cattle strikes a chord, because the now and then beef bull can be mean as hell, just because he is. We had one growing up. When he charged me when I was a teenager, my dad finally decided that was the last straw and sold him, despite his pretty babies.

Mom worked in the juvenile justice system, so that part really sounds like what I heard all my life.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you believe nature or nurture is the key driver in a good rooster?

That last part made me laugh.

I think it's a combination. I had a BJG chick chest-thumping me at two weeks. I thumped him back till he quit and he grew into a lovely boy. I was grieved to lose him to a coyote, defending his girls.

The idea of a flock raised rooster turning out the best behavior wise is intriguing, we see the same issues with bulls in cattle. Dairy bulls are notoriously nasty, being bottle raised they have no fear of people and are perfectly happy to kill you for no reason. Beef bulls are raised by the cow in the herd and rarely cause problems if you use basic common sense around cattle. Even bottle raised kittens and foals have issues, the mare has no problem whomping the little bugger when he bites or kicks, but the human foster raiser doesn’t have the heart and you get a cat that bites or a spoiled pony you can’t do a thing with. I think there is a lesson for human parents and teachers as well, without wise discipline our own kids will likewise grow up with issues that affect whole generations and our society at large. We are quickly becoming a society of rogue roosters, wow that’s more philosophical than this post was meant to contain!

Truer words may have never been spoken, though. That's why God invented grandparents, I think.

 

[KRack]

One thing I like about having a rooster is that he seems to prevent bullying between the hens and "mediates" disputes between them.

My roosters are also big boys, and I can tell that in the winter the hens like having a bigger body to cuddle up against. Monroe the rooster is currently helping keep 4 chickens warm on the roost by strategically being located in a corner.

This.

My rooster stands between our old girls and young girls, to prevent fighting. Even in the coop at roost time he’s between them, and it’s so much more peaceful. My flock does free range, and I like having fertilized eggs so my broody hens can hatch and raise their own.

I did have to get rid of 1 human aggressive roo (I have too many littles around to risk that behavior, but he was so great with his girls), and 1 roo that tried to kill all my hens that didn’t immediately submit to him. But finally landing on a sweet gentleman made all the struggles worth it.

 

[BonnieBlue]

I think it's a combination. I had a BJG chick chest-thumping me at two weeks. I thumped him back till he quit and he grew into a lovely boy. I was grieved to lose him to a coyote, defending his girls.


Truer words may have never been spoken, though. That's why God invented grandparents, I think.

Defending against a coyote is a badass rooster. If I free ranged, it would be a no brainer.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Defending against a coyote is a badass rooster. If I free ranged, it would be a no brainer.

It was badass of him, but it was foolish. The coyote got him and 4 of my BA hens. I admire him for it, but he would have done better to have herded them into safety.

 

[Mrs. K]

The best roosters are flock masters. They are a joy to the flock and yourself.

The best way to get a flock master is with a sharp knife. Don't keep a rotten one, the longer you do, the longer you wait for a flock master.

If you cannot cull, do not get roosters.

Mrs K