Rooster pros and cons

[FrogDoc]

I've searched around the forum for a while now and can't seem to find this information. We're getting 8 or so chicks tomorrow and I'm wondering whether we should go all-female or get a rooster, or roo, as I see you call them here.

What are the advantages? Better egg laying? Protection from predators?

I know the disadvantages are the barebacked hens and the racket, and sometimes they're mean (we have a 4 and 5 year old that will be chasing all of them, I'm sure).

Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance,

 

[ralleia]

Pros:

The only real advantage to having a rooster is that you'll likely have fertile eggs. But that only matters if you want to hatch out chicks, or if you believe that fertile eggs are better.

Tentative "pros" : entertainment value, might show some protectiveness to hens. However a rooster won't be able to protect even himself against a determined predator.

Cons:

-Possibility of hens getting bare backs and infection from rough mounting
-Crowing at any or all daylight hours
-Feed consumption
-Possible aggression to humans. Children are especially vulnerable since they are not as tall--more than one child has lost an eye from getting spurred in the face by a rooster.

 

[AKsmama]

Please do not let your children chase the chickens. If you really need to catch one, say to check an injury, that's one thing- but please, for the sake of the chickens, do not just let your kids chase them for fun. Trust me, it is NOT fun for the chickens.

 

[FrogDoc]

Thanks Ralleia... I can't imagine why fertile eggs would be better, and like my kids' eyes right where they are, so maybe no rooster for us. Oh, and I read your siggy line a bit too fast and saw "useless husband"

 

[FrogDoc]

Quote:
I wasn't intending on letting the kids chase them. I was just making the point that my children will be out there feeding, watering and such and was wondering if the rooster would show particular aggression. Thanks for allowing me to clarify.

 

[hennyannie]

My daughter is five(will be 6 soon), we taught her early how to get the chickens to come to her. She enjoys them and knows not to harass them.

 

[Luvamigo]

We currently have all hens and are loving the "peace." We used to have 2 roosters but had to get rid of them due to the fact that they became aggressive to my younger children (ages 7,8 &9) even though the children were conducting themselves very appropriately around the chickens. It really took the joy out of raising chickens b/c my little ones weren't able to even go in the pen to collect eggs or visit with the hens. The roosters quickly knew who they could act aggressively with and who they couldn't (i.e. adults). We tried several methods suggested here to help overcome the aggression but they just couldn't be trusted without an adult around. The crowing and constant mating was also a con for us.

The only pros I see are that they can be beautiful to look and at watch strut around. They can offer additional protection to the flock if your birds are not kept in a pen but are out free-ranging where they might be more likely to be attacked by predators. Also, if you want fertile eggs and intend to raise chicks they certainly fulfill a purpose. Otherwise, the possibility of constant crowing and aggression can outweigh the benefits. Also, the hens lay just as many eggs each week without a rooster around.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

The entertainment value of an outgoing roo more than makes up for the negatives, in my opinion - and you can always pen him up separately if he's a threat to the kids or wearing out the hens.

 

[AmyRey]

Our roo did an excellent job of watching for birds of prey and alerting everyone to take cover.

 

[turtlebird]

another thing to consider is that if you have a flock without a roo....one of your hens may sort of morph into that role of 'flock watcher'. She may even stop laying eggs. Weird. BUT roo's can make things more challenging. YOu always always always have to keep an eye on your kiddos.