Rooster Chat

[microchick]

I've been having fun today watching our 4 bachelor roos interacting with the month old chicks and their mom in the grow out pen that turned out being in the bachelor pen. The two juvenile roos are staying near the pen, scratching, offering tidbits through the fence and trying everything they can think of to get the babies' attention and impress their mom....without remembering that she is their mom also. If they were human, they would be flexing muscles and revving the engine on their cars. These boys are good roosters. They just happened to have the bad luck to be born male in a species where being female is preferred.

As I said. I like roosters. And no, I do not eat my birds either unless it's eat them or starve to death. Our birds are part of our prepper pantry. Just as there is a pantry full of canned food, there is also a coop full of chickens, a pond full of fish and timber full of rabbit, squirrel and deer. We won't go hungry. Extra roosters could be a great bartering item if things come to that.

Besides, I thought this thread was to celebrate the roosters in our lives. Not barbecue them.

 

[gimmie birdies]

My development nixed roosters. I ignored the order because they never enforce anything, but my neighbor came by and complained and is rallying up the other neighbors too. I put up an online ad hoping to re-home and offered a hen to go with, anyone have rooster tips on encouraging others to adopt? I really enjoyed having roosters.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately there are more roosters than homes for them, especially since only one per ten or so hens is needed. Most are destined for the dinner table. Wishing you luck finding a home for him.

 

[bobbi-j]

My development nixed roosters. I ignored the order because they never enforce anything, but my neighbor came by and complained and is rallying up the other neighbors too. I put up an online ad hoping to re-home and offered a hen to go with, anyone have rooster tips on encouraging others to adopt? I really enjoyed having roosters.

If they're not human aggressive, you could try that as a selling point. There are people out there looking for nice roosters.

 

[suchcutenails]

Good morning! I have two 14 week old boys that were unplanned...I bought 13 sexed female chicks, and two were wrong

I wasn't planning to have a rooster, but I have not been able to find homes for them, and we have some definite predator concerns, so I'd like to try to make it work! I've done a lot of reading, but I'd love some input from you experts! I'd really like to do as much as possible to help us all live happily together. I think the alternative is the crock pot

We only have 11 hens with the two roosters, all the same age. I know this ratio isn't great. For now, everyone is getting along. Duke, an Easter Egger, has been crowing since about 4 weeks. He is the #1 with very little challenge. He and Mr. Cogburn (Silver Laced Wyandotte) have had a couple of stare downs, but no fights that I've seen. Duke runs the girls pretty well. He keeps them together during their forage time, and lets us all know when there is something they need to hide from. They don't get to completely free range because they are actively being stalked by hawks, but they get supervised time with me ~ about an hour each morning and evening. Their covered run is about 150 sq ft.

For the last several weeks, Duke has been grabbing the girls by the back of the heads. They squawk and try to get away, and he ends up with a mouth full of feathers. Sometimes it seems really aggressive, but I assume this is early "mating" stuff? Once, he was really holding one down, and would not let her go. She was trying really hard to get away, but couldn't, and it went on for much longer than usual, so I broke it up...but I don't know if that was okay. It seemed like he was hurting her. I've never seen him attempt to climb on

~ I do know he's young. Does this sound like normal behavior? Because honestly, most days I go to bed ready to be done with him, and then in the morning, he does something to redeem himself and I want to keep him for his "roostering".

I have never seen Mr. Cogburn touch any of the girls. He has actually kind of acted like one of the hens. He did start crowing at sunrise two days ago. It seems like things are changing in the flock dynamic. Normally, when we go out for our foraging in the morning, Duke follows me, and the girls follow him ~ it's all very orderly. This morning, they were all kind of scattered. I noticed some of the ladies hovered with Duke, and some with Cogburn. Mostly, the girls seemed like they didn't know where to go. Now that Cogburn is crowing, is that going to change things? They've all been together since they were day-old chicks and we've had a fairly peaceful time of it so far.

Any tips you have would be appreciated! I have liked having coop harmony, and I'm afraid things are about to get a little crazy. Maybe I need to pick one, and keep the other?

Thanks SO much!!!

 

[TheTwoRoos]

What gender do you guys think?

This is their Father:Zeus

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What gender do you guys think?

This is their Father:Zeus

First one is definitely a rooster, how old are they?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I accidentally posted two of the same chick there is only three block the 2 nd pic ofbbarref rock out.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Also do you chicks usually take feom mothers colors.All those are New hampshire X.One looks to be pure Nh,the barred one looks like a pure barred absoulutly has nothing orange on him.The 3rd chick I think its mother is a silverlace wyandotte.They all look like their moms to me.....

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Good morning! I have two 14 week old boys that were unplanned...I bought 13 sexed female chicks, and two were wrong  I wasn't planning to have a rooster, but I have not been able to find homes for them, and we have some definite predator concerns, so I'd like to try to make it work! I've done a lot of reading, but I'd love some input from you experts! I'd really like to do as much as possible to help us all live happily together. I think the alternative is the crock pot :/


We only have 11 hens with the two roosters, all the same age. I know this ratio isn't great. For now, everyone is getting along. Duke, an Easter Egger, has been crowing since about 4 weeks. He is the #1 with very little challenge. He and Mr. Cogburn (Silver Laced Wyandotte) have had a couple of stare downs, but no fights that I've seen. Duke runs the girls pretty well. He keeps them together during their forage time, and lets us all know when there is something they need to hide from. They don't get to completely free range because they are actively being stalked by hawks, but they get supervised time with me ~ about an hour each morning and evening. Their covered run is about 150 sq ft.


For the last several weeks, Duke has been grabbing the girls by the back of the heads. They squawk and try to get away, and he ends up with a mouth full of feathers. Sometimes it seems really aggressive, but I assume this is early "mating" stuff? Once, he was really holding one down, and would not let her go. She was trying really hard to get away, but couldn't, and it went on for much longer than usual, so I broke it up...but I don't know if that was okay. It seemed like he was hurting her. I've never seen him attempt to climb on  ~ I do know he's young. Does this sound like normal behavior? Because honestly, most days I go to bed ready to be done with him, and then in the morning, he does something to redeem himself and I want to keep him for his "roostering". 


I have never seen Mr. Cogburn touch any of the girls. He has actually kind of acted like one of the hens. He did start crowing at sunrise two days ago. It seems like things are changing in the flock dynamic. Normally, when we go out for our foraging in the morning, Duke follows me, and the girls follow him ~ it's all very orderly. This morning, they were all kind of scattered. I noticed some of the ladies hovered with Duke, and some with Cogburn. Mostly, the girls seemed like they didn't know where to go. Now that Cogburn is crowing, is that going to change things? They've all been together since they were day-old chicks and we've had a fairly peaceful time of it so far. 


Any tips you have would be appreciated! I have liked having coop harmony, and I'm afraid things are about to get a little crazy. Maybe I need to pick one, and keep the other? 


Thanks SO much!!! 

Sinve I doubt they are laying they will not submit.If he is becoming too out of control I would defiantly sepreate him.He is young there is nothing wrong with this.You could get older hens with him and let him go at them.Chances are he'll just get the crap beat out of him but it'll teach him some great manners...


Sounds like everyones finding their place.Cogburn is probably the lower one of the two cockerals so he may exhibit some girly ways...They may begin fighting eachothet but it may just be some type of change in order,that isnt rare to happen.

The reason Cogburn may not be touching the girls could be because they beat him every attempt or he is just not quite ready.These boys are young do not give em up yet.