I have two "flocks" of chickens, I split off a flock of 22 chickens from the main bunch. My coop can only handle 22 over winter. The rest will be going "away" I have not decided who will be "making the trip" yet, to the brand new freezer. I have a smaller rooster in the split off flock that crows and seems to be sociable to the rest of the flock. He is an EE and not very meaty. I would like a meat type rooster, so I do not have to buy chicks next year. My problem is "brutus" the overly large red production rooster I like could be a tyrant. No other rooster dares to crow around him. Last night I accidentally chased a rooster from the smaller flock into Brutus's coop. It was a Dixie rainbow nearly as large a Brutus. Brutus put the run on him and chased him of the coop almost 80 yards away. Then Brutus to the coop and I thought he was mating with a larger Dixie rainbow hen. I thought this weird because I have no chickens laying eggs yet. When he let the poor bird up, I saw it was a rooster. Is Brutus just mean? Is this normal? Should Brutus go away?
A passage in the flock masters manuel for roosters must state, that he must at times use force, be a tyrant, to keep his position. He if is good with you and his hens, he is alright. Chickens sometimes mount others for dominance, with hens will also do it.
Cool. Other than these couple incidents he has been a sweetheart. He is good with my CX chicks even. He seldom if ever partakes in the "rooster fights" the other chickens have. They all just give him wide berth. I would never have picked him to be the dominant bird as he is so gentle and unassuming.
Sounds like he would be a keeper, from what you're telling us. He's good to you and the hens, commanding enough the youngsters don't challenge him without him constantly sparring with them, and nice and meaty. Sounds like your ideal rooster
thru the years when i have a choice of roosters . i look when they are free ranging to see if he competes for food or lets the hens eat it..or if he makes sounds when he finds food and picks it up and drops it ... now they have to be about over 14 weeks old to really tell as until then they compete for food like hens...but many times if you have 6 or more roos one or two will give the signs early ...first thing is to eliminate the ones you dont want if size is considered... i never just look for the nice looking one as it seems to me they never work out....and when you finally cull the others the one you chose fills out niclely, and faster than having the others around...
Thanks. Brutus has made the cut. He is not pushy with any of the birds, he just does not take any S(PooP)t from any of them. He lets the chicks graze with him, they run around his feet, he ignores them. Bru follows me and has personality. He will not let another rooster eat his pile of grain. But strangely he allows hens and chicks in. He gives the roosters the eye and they run. Today after a predator scare he went on the roof of the hicks house( about 30 inches up) and was doing look out duty. He was clucking the all clear sign I think. Rick Brutus's side kick and buddy, ( they hang together for some reason) is a Dixie Rainbow. I would like to keep him because of color, size and drumstick size. BUT he may not make the cut as he was too stupid to come out of the rain yesterday. He actually sat in a down pour in a puddle. He lots points there... I had one other but he is a red sex link, and I really do not want to keep one of them decided. Besides he attempted a barnyard coup today. Brutus did not take kindly to it. I doubt the red will take on Brutus again..... Other than that I have no idea who to keep. I would like to keep 3 until spring then whittle it down to 2. Incase one does not make the winter. I have some beautify EE roosters but they are scrawny and mean to the other chickens. So they have blue boarding passes. I appreciate hearing look for...
