Rooster or No Rooster?

[McChooky]

Raising a cockerel with flockmates generally backfires. The cockerel gets bigger and becomes sexually active long before the pullets. Without older hen to keep them in line they often become very aggressive to pullets and to people. Inexperienced people vastly underestimate the violence and aggression of a rooster,

People who are animal lovers often have misconceptions about chickens. Being raised together has almost no influence on adult behavior. Another is friendly chicks that readily approach you are loving being with you, That is not true, they have no fear which can make them aggressive.

As AArt, a respected poster here says, “roosters are where the romance of raising chickens meets reality.” Often it is not pretty.

Right now it is hard to imagine how big your birds will be. What is enough room for chicks rapidly becomes not enough room for full size birds. Flocks with roosters need more room than recommended.

Best advice is to raise the pullets, get some experience and then raise up a couple of cockerels and cull to the best one. If you cannot cull a rotten rooster, do not get roosters. There are a lot of rotten roosters no matter how you raise them.

Mrs K

No truer words spoken! Most cockerels start out sweet and become jerks overnight.I just raised 2 of them and only one of them is a gentleman

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I remember my Grandmother always had a rooster, not that they were needed, she just said they rounded out the flock having as she said, His Nibs strutting around in his Haughtiness was something she enjoyed. Being an impressionable 10 year old it stuck with me and I always had/have a Rooster. I get a few as chicks with the hens and when they mature I keep the most pleasing to the eye. Now with no young children I'll even tolerate a mean one if He's handsome.

 

[McChooky]

I've got 2 cream legbar cockerels. Never seen them fight, always gotten along well.They will turn one yr old in April or May.I love my boys but don't pet on them lol

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I've got 2 cream legbar cockerels. Never seen them fight, always gotten along well.They will turn one yr old in April or May.I love my boys but don't pet on them lol

Same with our BLK AUS, 1 yr this past January (2024) They hang together some minor spats, as with you they're chickens not lap dogs.

 

[McChooky]

Same with our BLK AUS, 1 yr this past January (2024) They hang together some minor spats, as with you they're chickens not lap dogs.

I've got a couple blk aus hens!

 

[CoopBoots]

His Nibs strutting around in his Haughtiness

Oh I'm stealing this. It's true, they are so smug and self satisfied in demeanor it becomes amusing to watch!

There's no reason anyone has to have a rooster outside of breeding, but I find it adds to the hens' quality of life. He does more than look good and fertilize eggs. He reassures my hens that can't decide where to lay their eggs, answers their escort calls, breaks up infighting, finds treats, sounds alarms, gives them attention when they want it, and makes it possible for the hens to successfully brood eggs when they wish to. All parts of their natural lives that I really can't substitute for them.

If they like him, and I like him, it's a big win for everyone. But if either the hens or I don't like him, it's a huge loss. If you want one, don't settle for a bad one.