Question for serious breeders w/ rooster experience much

[briteday]

I keep my RIR roo separate from the girls, most of the time. I allow him to be in their run/coop starting at the coldest part of winter for warmth. Then he is in a breeding pen with which ever breed I am fertilizing from the end of January until sometime in March, depending on chick orders. After breeding I usually move him to the bachelor pad and give the girls a break.

 

[centrarchid]

I agree with Oregon Blues. Temperament issues are considered with my efforts as well. I seldom have problems except with roosters acquired from others. Rearing environment for rooster may also influence temperament. Wish I new what was going on to control problem better.

 

[jmc]

you folks are dear. i really appreciate your words.

i am going to visit my aged parents for a few days, so i will not get back to this good stuff till Sat 7/2

see you soon, let's hope

 

[NYREDS]

As a general rule I leave the males & females together. A couple of exceptions: 1] when I want to pedigree mate I pen females individually & rotate the desired male through the pens. 2] If, when I'm done hatching, I want to get a cock or hen ready for a future show I will seperate them as mating is rough on the feathers of both sexes.
As to ratios, they can vary from 1:1 to 1:10.
About the only trait I don't select for is temperment. I'm a 200 pound man with a black belt. I don't feel I have anything to fear from a 7 pound chicken.

 

[jmc]

thanks again. don't even have time to read the replies, due to busyness. but i want to get back to this soon!

 

[jmc]

Quote:
i don't see then, how you can NOT have a bunch of barebacked, maybe lacerated girls, if the males are usually with them year round. i know what 3 BO roos can do to 22 BO hens, and it isn't pretty.

nyreds you must have a secret, or de-clawed roos!

 

[centrarchid]

Roosters vary greatly in how they treat hens. My dominiques and American games generally pretty easy on hens while California greys cover hens multiple times each day. Feather quality of hens can also influence how far damage goes.

 

[cmom]

I put the boys in with the girls I want them to mate with. I don't put in any more than 12 girls to 1 boy but usually it's 8 or 9 girls to 1 boy. I am breeding for characteristics I want to see in my flocks as I do sell chicks up to adults. Some people want chicks and some want ready to lay. My boys are on strike right now because of the heat I think.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
i don't see then, how you can NOT have a bunch of barebacked, maybe lacerated girls, if the males are usually with them year round. i know what 3 BO roos can do to 22 BO hens, and it isn't pretty.

nyreds you must have a secret, or de-clawed roos!

No secret, no declawing. Centrarchid's answer speaks to it pretty well. Just isn't an issue with anything I'm currently breeding. I even hav one trio of Large Fowl Old English Games that are together year roung & those feathers are pretty brittle. A few weeks ago I took a hen directly out of that pen to a show, she looked fine.

 

[galanie]

Quote:
I thought the temperament they were talkig about was how they treated their girls, not how they react to you. And from what you say, your roosters treat them pretty good.