Rooster question...

[1indian]

I'm cross posting this from another board because that board is mainly a horse board and this one is a chicken board.

A bantam rooster has adopted my mother and step dad. He's been there about three months, seems to be fully grown and mom says he LOVES people. They are thinking about getting a couple of hen friends for him (to distract him from trying to get in the house!) but are worried it might make him aggressive. Is there a possibility that a couple of lady friends might make him difficult to get along with?

And for the record, I am aware from some of the stories I've heard that roosters can just get mean as they age. I hope this one doesn't because she really likes him and would never consider eating him. Of course, she hasn't been spurred by him (yet), either.

Here he is in the local paper (!?!?):

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...psb0438e75.jpg

And here are a couple of him invading her screened in back porch:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...psed1bba41.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...pse8e25a49.jpg

 

[chfite]

it is quite likely that his behavior will change with the presence of hens. Whether he will become unpleasant is a variable that is difficult to predict. Moreover, too few hens will result in his over-mating them, leaving them with their feathers stripped from their backs exposing bare skin to damage. The general recommendation is 8 hens per rooster to help prevent this problem.

I find the dynamics of the flock of hens and a rooster to be quite entertaining to watch. That is the only reason we kept the rooster. After all, they don't lay eggs so they have to be good for something.

Chris