Rooster Flock Thread

[CannedMonster]

Love my bantam roos!
I decided to rehome my standard Australorp rooster due to the hens losing all the feathers on their backs.
I don’t want to buy 7 of those saddle things.
I find that bantam roosters don’t cause the kind of feather loss that the standard ones do.
Plus they’re just easier to handle and have very good instincts.
I currently have a porcelain D’Uccle cockerel that’s 4 months old.
And I have a 4 month old bantam buff Cochin and a 3 month old bantam black Cochin.
This is Little Jack aka Little Man.

This is Ziggy (buff) and Rerun (black)

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Love my bantam roos!
I decided to rehome my standard Australorp rooster due to the hens losing all the feathers on their backs.
I don’t want to buy 7 of those saddle things.
I find that bantam roosters don’t cause the kind of feather loss that the standard ones do.
Plus they’re just easier to handle and have very good instincts.
I currently have a porcelain D’Uccle cockerel that’s 4 months old.
And I have a 4 month old bantam buff Cochin and a 3 month old bantam black Cochin.
This is Little Jack aka Little Man.
View attachment 1815330

This is Ziggy (buff) and Rerun (black)
View attachment 1815331

I totally agree! I love my standard roos, but I definitely prefer bantams over standards.
I've kept three bantam roos and two hens together before, and I've also successfully kept bantam pairs without over breeding. My bantams are also better foragers, in my experience.
Another picture of the two OEGB cockerels-

The sebright pair, who are inseparable-

 

[Roo5]

Came for some insight.I have been raising chickens for awhile.This time I’m raising a whole new flock and a few birds are boys.I have raised many males, escpecially friendly ones with no issues, ever literally one incident form a bird who wasn’t even mine.This is my first time raising young males without any older birds to beat the hell out of them when they get outta shape, and I honestly think I’m paying for it.My current boys at about 9-10 weeks.And the males I plan on keeping have a bit of an attitude issue.I have had this happen before,but usually it’s around this same age and sparks up for about week but they all seem to grow out of the “wing drop growl a bit” stage before they even make it to five months.However seeing as the process ends early,THESE BOYS are still doing it, it’s been about 2-3 weeks.They look like their gonna be good birds if they would just chill with the tudes,their the most alert and I feel like this is gonna mena good things for the flock. This body language their showing is defiantly a problem because their body language is only a small sign for what’s to come and I won’t tolerate an aggressive attacking bird,I’m trying to work with them right now.Do you guys think this is just a preteen related issues and before they reach sexual maturity they will grow out of it ?Or should I just go ahead and give them up and keep just the other friendly boy?I plan on getting 5 more pullets around their age and 4 hens, or just older birds in general to maybe tame them down before they end up someone’s dinner,thansk.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Came for some insight.I have been raising chickens for awhile.This time I’m raising a whole new flock and a few birds are boys.I have raised many males, escpecially friendly ones with no issues, ever literally one incident form a bird who wasn’t even mine.This is my first time raising young males without any older birds to beat the hell out of them when they get outta shape, and I honestly think I’m paying for it.My current boys at about 9-10 weeks.And the males I plan on keeping have a bit of an attitude issue.I have had this happen before,but usually it’s around this same age and sparks up for about week but they all seem to grow out of the “wing drop growl a bit” stage before they even make it to five months.However seeing as the process ends early,THESE BOYS are still doing it, it’s been about 2-3 weeks.They look like their gonna be good birds if they would just chill with the tudes,their the most alert and I feel like this is gonna mena good things for the flock. This body language their showing is defiantly a problem because their body language is only a small sign for what’s to come and I won’t tolerate an aggressive attacking bird,I’m trying to work with them right now.Do you guys think this is just a preteen related issues and before they reach sexual maturity they will grow out of it ?Or should I just go ahead and give them up and keep just the other friendly boy?I plan on getting 5 more pullets around their age and 4 hens, or just older birds in general to maybe tame them down before they end up someone’s dinner,thansk.

I've had ones that grew out of it, and ones that got worse. Are they actually attacking you, or just showing signs of it?

 

[Roo5]

Signs, nobody has attacked.Its kinda like when kids no to avoid your way when their talking bad or they know to keep their distance but still have something smart to say, you know?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Signs, nobody has attacked.Its kinda like when kids no to avoid your way when their talking bad or they know to keep their distance but still have something smart to say, you know?

I'd wait a little while, then- but make sure to not let them get overconfident. Walk through them, not around them, hold them down to the ground if they shuffle towards you, pick them up and carry them around a lot, etc.

 

[Roo5]

I Do all of that.I try not to make fast movements around them because I know they don’t like that, but adhd and energetic and young so I naturally move pretty fast, in whatever.

 

[Nksg75]

question for you all, and a little summary of my situation:

I am putting together a coop for the all rooster flock.
I already have my head rooster I like, and after ordering the Cackle surprise I have a few (10ish) extra Roos.
The flock makeup is

1 CCL (head) rooster
30 ish different breed of adult hens
**2 teenage (Pain in the butt) roosters (broody hatched)**
Approx 60 (11 week old) cackle surprise
25 (11 week old) Ideal hatchery pullets
* everyone freeranges together and the flock is completely content except for one thing....


I have witnessed the 2 teenage roosters try to breed my 11 week old pullets. I won't have that!! and I am not sure if it's because of the age, if I should just cull them now.
To me this doesn't seem normal.
I know that the hormones are raging, yet 11 week old pullets should not have to endure this, and if I don't do anything, one of them will end up being injured.

The coop is really being built for the 11 week old roosters I have, and won't be ready for another week at least.

Suggestions on this behavior?
Is it normal for this age?
They also breed with the adult hens while the head roosters back is turned. So they are not just going for the chicks.

 

[Roo5]

Yes, young males often will rape and mate pullets, a mature rooster won’t breed with any who don’t lay, or aren’t of age yet.
What your witnessing is normal and the best thing to do is separate the boys, often times they will grow out of the super hormonal stage.

 

[CannedMonster]

My cockerels have done this too but some are worse than others.
How they respond to this influx of hormones will help me determine who I keep and who goes to freezer camp.
Some cockerels actually seem to target pullets because they’re afraid of the mature hens who won’t tolerate their behavior and also because the dominant rooster doesn’t show interest in immature pullets.
Although the mature rooster will usually not allow the cockerels to breed anyone.
I feel like the pullets are just an easy target unfortunately.