Rooster Chat

[Amiti]

Hello everybody! I currently have 3 hens just under a year old, that I have had for a couple months now. I love them and feel we are all ready for a roo! I go get our new guy tomorrow. He is a Welsummer and I can't wait!

 

[aldarita]

3 pullets are not enough for a rooster, watch him carefully, you might have to get him more. I have a cockerel that will turn one year in May, he has 3 pullets and I'm having to get them saddles because they have lost all their feathers in their back. I'm getting 3 more pullets for him next month, hopefully they will be better of, so watch out, be aware that you might have to increase your number of hens

 

[Amiti]

3 pullets are not enough for a rooster, watch him carefully, you might have to get him more. I have a cockerel that will turn one year in May, he has 3 pullets and I'm having to get them saddles because they have lost all their feathers in their back. I'm getting 3 more pullets for him next month, hopefully they will be better of, so watch out, be aware that you might have to increase your number of hens

Thanks. I was planning on adding a hen or two in a couple months, but maybe I will sooner.

 

[cabinchicky]

Thanks. I was planning on adding a hen or two in a couple months, but maybe I will sooner.

You may need to add more than one or two. They will have a favorite hen or two. Just watch for bare spots on the hens wings.I had to put my large male in a pen alone for a day or two so the girls could get a break.

 

[yellowherb]

I suppose I have 4 roosters/cockerels. Only 2 are crowing and doing their duties. 1 is a young Mille Fleur, 1 older sultan who seems to not be able to fertilize a egg, a 6 month old sultan who has not crowed yet but is attempting to grab the hens when he can(from the wrong side) and a teeny young Mille who I may keep as my 'backup' Mille, depending on how he looks as he grows. I'm sure I probably have a few more in the sultan chicks(from a hatchery since the adult sultan male appears to be sterile).

My older boys get along pretty well together and even go to the same coop but that fast little Mille seems to have learned just how far down a hen's back he needs to go and I'm now getting fertile sultan eggs

Mille Roo does this turkey run thing I've never seen before. In the mornings the boys generally leave the coop first and head towards the back yard. Mille waits until the sultan isn't paying attention and drops his wings, fans his tail(like a strutting tom turkey) and hauls butt back to the coop to try and corner a few sultan hens before the sultan roo catches on. The sultan never actually catches Mille at this, Mille jumps down and is generally attacked by the sultan hen before the roo can do anything to him.

Neither of the older boys are really rough on their hens and I do not have a lot of hens for them yet. Mille has two hens and Sully has 2 pullets and 4 hens. I never get a clear mille egg, all are fertile and his hen's remain beautiful. He doesn't put them out too much with his roosterly desires. The 6month old Sultan, Little Roo, now he's a bit rough when he grabs a girl. But he knows he's going to be beaten up too when he lets go. Only the two pullets do not chase him down and clobber him after his attempted affections. I do realize my rooster situation is a bit different than most since I have more decorative and non combatant chickens.

The roosters are just so much fun.
My little mille is leading the flock of young chicks, he actually seems to be the only boy amongst a LOT of little mille girls.

 

[Amiti]

I will watch them closely and add hens as necessary.

 

[Boston One]

Your Reese is a beautiful boy. I have 2 that look just like him. Each one of them had a different hen mother, yet they look like identical twins.
I have been calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2 ( from Doctor Seuss ; )
May I ask what breed do you think Reese is?

 

[cabinchicky]

My LF Cochin is trying to catch his one female but no luck yet that I have seen. I hope he breeds but with his knee I don't know if he will. Will need to candle eggs soon.

 

[the poppster]

Hello everybody! I currently have 3 hens just under a year old, that I have had for a couple months now. I love them and feel we are all ready for a roo! I go get our new guy tomorrow. He is a Welsummer and I can't wait!

if the hens are older than the Roo...They might give him the run around. Hens can be pretty aggressive if they feel like it...a young rooster will probably run from them...at first...once he gets a little older the tables will turn.

 

[Amiti]

if the hens are older than the Roo...They might give him the run around. Hens can be pretty aggressive if they feel like it...a young rooster will probably run from them...at first...once he gets a little older the tables will turn.

He is only 7 months old. The girls will b 1 in April and may. I am going to look for more hens while he is seperated from them. Then when I move him in I will have a place to put new pullets to quarantine.