Rooster Hired as Security Bouncer

[thmokeyjoe]

I hear that a rooster will protect his ladies. Is this true? If so, to what extent? My chickens are pretty well secure, but if a opossum or raccoon did get in...is it just a 50/50 chance? Oh, I have 2 roosters and 18 pretty ladies. Thanks....
-Mista J.

 

[CMV]

Roosters will at times lay down their life for the safety of the flock. They will chase off predators. They will sound an alarm call if they sight something they deem a danger. They will find the tastiest treats for their ladies. They will even mediate fights between your hens and protect the weaker birds. IF you have a good rooster. You sound like you may have a good number of ladies for your 2 roos, so enjoy the benefits of a safer flock.

 

[Quack Shack]

Let me tell you, my OEG roos saved their flock yesterday AM when foxes came calling. They refused to bring their girls back over even when they saw us out in the yard. It took some coaxing and treats to even get them to come back over to the coop near the scene of the crime. As long as they don't go after you and your neighbors don't complain, I think having a good one or two around is advantageous. If something happens to your alpha roo, the second in line will assume the role without missing a scratch um beat.

 

[horsejody]

They will often protect them, but if the attack happens while they are roosting at night they never see it coming.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:

And a rooster is often no match for a determined predator. They are brave, but they can only do so much. I wouldn't rely on a rooster too much for predator control.

 

[speckledhen]

Though he will probably lose his life in the process of defending his ladies, I do consider my rooster my first line of defense. I haven't had any hawk losses yet and I credit all my wonderful roosters for that. Just the fact that they stand watch steadfastly while the ladies are busy looking for tasty goodies with which to stuff their beaks makes them well worth having, IMO.

 

[Goldlaced_Girl]

My roo died for his hens. he fought a fox and caught and carried off. he beat all his hens back behind him, and beat his wings and pecked and scratched the fox in the face. he was a storm of feathers and claws. The fox eventually got him though... Colonel was one in a million

 

[horsejody]

I had a crazy roo once that adopted 2 kittens. He watched over them like an old mother hen. He made sure that the other cats never bothered them. Two known cat killer dogs got out of their fence. Chicken Bob was mortally wounded defending the kittens before we got outside. He actually shredded one of the dog's tongue in the fight. Don't worry. The dog didn't suffer long. No, I didn't shoot it. The dogs' owner did. He was a heck of a rooster. I wish I had another just like him. He was irreplaceable. I had chickens when i was a kid, but he was the beginning to my adult chicken addiction. He just appeared in the yard one day crowing his silly head off. He was a fighting cock that somebody had dumped in our yard. I guess somebody was "getting rid of the evidence." I saw him beat the daylights out a huge stray tomcat once because it bothered his kittens. He nearly ripped its ear off.