Rooster Chat

[microchick]

Same here.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

I just wanted to share a photo of my smallest cockerel. I have at least three more that are younger. But they are all a little bigger. His crow sounds so different from the others. Not just the size difference - smaller lungs a higher pitch sound - but also in tone. Perhaps he will add a note or two as he gets a little older....

Such a cutie! I love the choir of roos I hear every morning. Unfortunately, mine has the worst voice out of all of them, a desperate sounding yodel-scream!

 

[Amelia Egghart]

I just love to watch my boss roo interact with my neighbor...every time the neighbor comes to visit, that big old white rock roo has to size him up....what a hoot! He struts up to Jimmy and stops about three feet away then tilts his head to look up and give Jimmy the benefit of a Full Right eyeball stare! At the same time showing off his Big Red comb...I don't think he realizes that the frigid temperatures his first winter, left him with a bit of a crew cut, as far as rooster combs go. He is so obviously picking him out for a challenge. Not in a frightened "Umbrella Neck" approach....more of a man to man...chest bumper challenge...before it gets to the tap dance...I usually step in and put a stop to it....honestly I think that rooster is taking his cues from the dog....my border collie...she has been extremely suspicious of the neighbors since day one and will bark at Jimmy whenever he comes over.....I wonder?

LOL better watch out for that Jimmy!

My white Jersey Giant would chase people off the property. He'd stand as tall as he could and stick-leg walk at them, growling, giving them the intense Right Eye Stare. The first time someone ran he got the biggest confidence boost of his little life! Hahaha aaaah, he probably would have ended up an aggressive roo but he was sure a fun cockerel. Miss that boy

 

[ldawntaylor]

He's cute! What kind is he?

Yes, he is cute. He's about 17 weeks old now. I've been told recently that he may be a single comb Nankin. All I know for sure is that he is from Ideal by way of Atwoods.

 

[ldawntaylor]

Such a cutie! I love the choir of roos I hear every morning. Unfortunately, mine has the worst voice out of all of them, a desperate sounding yodel-scream!

Choir is a good description. But that soon changes to chaos when they realize I'm there.

 

[IDdreamin]

Hello, I'm new to BYC and relatively new to chickens. We have 6 BO hens that are approximately 16 months old. This spring a friend ended up with a BO rooster in her batch and we decided to take him on in. As we do not have a second coop we raised him in a small pen in the house. Once he was the same size as the girls we started putting him put to free range during the day and bringing him in at night. He is now free range and in the coop with the girls at night. He shrieks and runs from the girls and on one occasion they bloodied him pretty good. He's still not crowing, but yesterday I noticed him sneaking up on the girls and grabbing them on the back of the neck. Is this "normal"? Should I just let the hens handle him? He is approx 4 months old.
On a second note, he has also bitten me twice in the last week. When I'm walking through the yard he either lunges at my leg or tries to stand in my way. I'm not sure how to interpret this chicken posture. However, after reading here, I'm concerned I may have ruined him? He was raised inside with plenty of petting, etc. I would carry him in and out at night.Any advice on how to correct my error / proceed would be appreciated. We've gotten attached to him, but I can't risk an aggressive rooster around the kids.

 

[LilJoe]

4 for sure and 2 were not 100% sure on

 

[gimmie birdies]

you roo wants to know his place. I always pick up a rooster that is near me, that way they don't come near unless they want to be picked up. and if you act afraid, that tells him he is higher on the pecking order. My roosters would know I was tops without hurting them. Don't kick at them either that just makes them want to fight more.

 

[roctavious]

Talking about everything rooster/ cockerel - behavior, meat, sex ID, breeds etc.

I have 5 Buff Orpingtons in my flock. They are about 5 months old and I am getting eggs from some of them. One of them is darker and taller than the others but has a very light comb and no wattles (the other four are big and bright red). Since I got them at the same time I am wondering if I have a late bloomer or a rooster...we are new to this chicken thing. Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have 5 Buff Orpingtons in my flock. They are about 5 months old and I am getting eggs from some of them. One of them is darker and taller than the others but has a very light comb and no wattles (the other four are big and bright red). Since I got them at the same time I am wondering if I have a late bloomer or a rooster...we are new to this chicken thing. Thanks.

If it has a light comb at 5 months it's probably a hen. Rooster get red combs and waddles early in life, most by 6 weeks.