Rooster Chat

[Stephine]

I gave away the last roo in mid march, after that the combs lost color. Then the new cockerel started crowing late July, that's when they all turned bright red again --- so it's not the seasons' effect.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I gave away the last roo in mid march, after that the combs lost color. Then the new cockerel started crowing late July, that's when they all turned bright red again --- so it's not the seasons' effect.

It could have been from the stress of losing the roosters than.

 

[Stephine]

It could have been from the stress of losing the roosters than.

That's what I thought initially, too, but the color never got better - until the new cockerel started crowing, and then the color came back as fast as it had disappeared before! If anything they have been more stressed than in their months without a rooster since we integrated the two newcomers. There was lots of fence fighting between the cockerel and most of the hens, then real fighting and chasing after I took out the separate pens...

 

[Diannastarr]

So - I have an observation and I wonder if anyone else has noticed the same.
When I got my first chicks I had two cockerels in the mix.
Every pullet's comb and wattle got a nice red color when they started laying, things were good. Then I got rid of the cockerels one by one a few months apart. After I gave away the second roo my hens' combs and wattles started looking a bit pale. I treated for cocci just in case, and worms, too, thinking the stress of loosing the roo might have weakened their immunity. No change.
Then I got a male chick in the spring and added him to the flock, in his separate pen together with the new pullet at 7 weeks old. He started crowing a number of weeks later (maybe at 14 -15 weeks I can't remember) and, I kid you not, within days all the older hens (all 12 of them) got brighter wattles. Like someone had turned a switch. No other feed or med changes. Now they are all integrated and the hens continue to look bright red in the face.
I wonder if just the presence of a male in the flock makes their color brighter??? Did realizing there was a cockerel with them change their hormones so they could all signal their fertility better? I find this fascinating!

WOW that's SOME GOOD OBSERVATION on your part and yes indeed very fascinating!!! thanks for your interesting info...! good one...!!!!!!!

 

[Diannastarr]

Your set up sounds wonderful!! I did not plan on loving my roosters either!! Our yard is sloping, and very wooded so multiple large runs isn't as much of an option. I have read that some people alternate the free range days. Boys one day, and girls another... I'm thinking this might work for us as long as I get their set up right for days they are closed in. The crowing doesn't bother me so much, the faverolles aren't too loud. They actually crow back and forth with the neighbors roosters! I love hearing them in the morning around town. I'm thinking on large covered run off of our current one, with a rooster coop attached. Do your rooster coops need anything other than the roosts? the obviously don't need nest boxes. I know I have 2 more chicks that are for sure faverolle roos, but the others are crosses, and I have no idea yet! Any tips on telling the sex sooner rather than later? Everyone has transitioned into the flock with ease so far, but I understand that they would need to be part of the rooster flock before they start crowing. Do you pair them by twos based on who gets along best?

i started with the rotation idea, until we got all the pens built , but thats also a great idea, and the birds seem to catch on who gos out when HA, and its nice to see them happy running around free...!!! o yeah tips on telling roos sooner then later , i have to say its the way they act like my 3 week old roos here in my pic , they are the bold ones up front if some thing new is going on , and then there is the waddles they are more developed in the boys of the same age as the girls, and then mostly they like to peck at things, like your finger or rings etc. and of course their tiny squeaky short attempt at crowing HA, little squeaky petes it call them....lol... HA, here are 2 of my 3 week old roos

who were right on the new toy, investigating a poster i put in their day time play pen for fun all the other chicks were girls , and they were behind the 2 little roos, who were investigating the new toy HA, the both SLW & CW acting like guards of the other babies...lol...those 2 roos still live together and have always been such sweet little guys. such a sweet bunch of fuzzy butts....lol...

 

[CCinVT]

View attachment 1121395 View attachment 1121389 i started with the rotation idea, until we got all the pens built , but thats also a great idea, and the birds seem to catch on who gos out when HA, and its nice to see them happy running around free...!!! o yeah tips on telling roos sooner then later its the way they act as 3 week olds, they are the bold ones up front if some thing new is going on , and then there is their waddles they are more developed in the boys of the same age as the girls, and then mostly they like to peck at things, like your finger or rings etc. and of course their tiny squeaky short attempt at crowing HA, little squeekie petes it call them....lol... HA here are 2 of my , 3 week View attachment 1121389 old roos right on the poster i put in their day time play pen for fun all the other chicks were girls , and they were behind the 2 little roos, who were investigating the new toy ,HA one a SLW & CW acting like guards of the other babies...lol...those 2 roos still live together and have always been such sweet little guys. such a sweet bunch of fuzzy butts....lol...

Our faverolle boys are two peas in a pod. Since day one. That's why they are separated together because they were teaming up to get the girls! We are working on our coop run/rooster extension this weekend. I hope the rotation ranging will work for us. I'm glad to hear you used it too whole you were get to,g set up. Our yard is pretty dense woods, and we have been dragging logs to mill our own lumber. We are on a hill so we have to be strategic. Not a ton of wide open but they love the woods, and I love seeing them out. The faverolle babies are easy because of the colors and I have one little grey baby (I will try to post a pic of later) who is for sure a roo. Its funny because it reminds me of his dad Abe who is our top boy. If I stick my hand in he will run right up, and peck at my fingers! I have Cochin wyndotte mixes, and faverolle x wyndotte that I just can't figure out! I think some might be roo but will be watching their combs.
I will post pics of the babies soon. Its exciting to have rooster people to share with! I love seeing your pictures!

 

[CCinVT]

That's what I thought initially, too, but the color never got better - until the new cockerel started crowing, and then the color came back as fast as it had disappeared before! If anything they have been more stressed than in their months without a rooster since we integrated the two newcomers. There was lots of fence fighting between the cockerel and most of the hens, then real fighting and chasing after I took out the separate pens...

I have just gotten roosters last summer after having all hen flock...they were integrated as young chicks, and as soon as they matured I also swore I saw their combs get so red! Even my old girls got so bright like I had never seen pre rooster. Their combs always fluctuated with seasons and laying, but the vibrant red I totally give credit to the Rios. They also make more sing song coos...different then when we were an all girl crew.

 

[Diannastarr]

here they are as teen roos still always together,

 

[Stephine]

My new SFH cockerel makes sounds I never heard out of my other two before - those couldn't even be bothered to cluck for treats! This one clucks to call his ladies over for treats (with mixed results - about half of them ignore him, they are rather slow to catch on!), he does a little warning call when he notices anything potentially alarming, a slow trill, different from the one for things that are definitely dangerous), and he hums! Well it's somewhere between a purr and a coo. Do your roosters do that? I haven't been able to figure out what that is about and he does it a lot! Sometimes after he has been turned down by a hen, but often he just walks around or stands there and... well, what do you even call that sound?

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Mine have made their respective "man caves" and go in there and chatter/coo/hum up a storm. I figure he's making a nice nest area and advertising 1) what a great place I have here, ladies 2) I'm such a great place-finder, don't you think, ladies? 3) I'm so good at being me. Me me me. Ah yes, I love being me. You love me because I'm me. Meeeeeeee.

At least, that's what it seems like my boys are saying!