Rooster Reserve Corps

[SarahGfa]

This is an idea I have... We all hatch out too many roosters, right? I'm thinking about getting hatching eggs for a very gamey breed, like Asil, and let one rooster free range with the hens while the other roosters are "on reserve" in separate pens. If a predator shows up, the main rooster will fight it. If rooster can get a few good licks in, the predator will probably think twice about coming back. When the main rooster dies in battle, then rotate one of his brothers in to lead the flock.

The worst predators we have are coyotes, and this is only for daytime. Does this plan make sense?

 

[Bug n Flock]

Well, not all roos with fight for you. Some are right... jerks and would rather attack you. Plus I have gound a delay in hatch to protection status. In my experience it doesn't matter HOW many roos you have, predators are still an issue. Especially if none are mature roos.

We had a mature roo and 4 hens do fiiiine for a while but then got an additional 50 or so birds from a hatchery. Our mature roo had become a pain, so he went to freezer camp when the other birds were a few months old and free ranging. Then came the predators. WOW. It has started to slow now finally. Our roos have begun to act like roos finally. They alert to hawks and other things that seem amiss, and they are taking on other roosterly duties.

We don't pen any separate. All our birds free range other than babies or those set to be dinner. Yeah, the roos square off and bicker a bit, but that too is settling down as they are establishing their heirarchy. We will thin the numbers as we get hungry, they start to fight, or they start to go after people like George did. I don't claim to be an expert, and we do have well over 60 acres, but this is what we do so far.

 

[SarahGfa]

Well, not all roos with fight for you. Some are right... jerks and would rather attack you. Plus I have gound a delay in hatch to protection status. In my experience it doesn't matter HOW many roos you have, predators are still an issue. Especially if none are mature roos.

i'm not gonna use just any old roos... that's why i want to get a good game breed, the ones that were bred to fight and never give up. i know that predator losses are guaranteed for free range birds... but i want the predator to get kicked in the face a few times so it doesn't feel like such an easy meal.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

That's kind of what I'm doing. I keep one rooster in solitary confinement because he is such a butthead and endangers the safety of my other two roosters who get along very well. If something happens to them, I will bring him online, so to speak.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with the second poster, I think it depends more on the age of the rooster and their experience with predators. And some roosters are just not as good as others with predation. I have had some that predation did not happen, well, until it did. Next rooster, not near as good of luck, next rooster, grew up under a rooster, he did much better when it was his turn.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Does this plan make sense?

Maybe ...what is your goal with keeping chickens?
Will the breed that 'protects' well also lay as many eggs as you want?

 

[SarahGfa]

Maybe ...what is your goal with keeping chickens?
Will the breed that 'protects' well also lay as many eggs as you want?

I already have laying hens that lay more eggs than I can use. My goal now is to try to keep as many of them alive as possible!

I think a lot of people are misunderstanding me... I KNOW THAT regular barnyard roosters can be hit or miss. That's why my plan is to go for the "gamest" breed I can find, so they'll fight any bad guy that bothers a hen, even if it's much bigger than he is.

 

[Ms Biddy]

I don't think any rooster is a good match against coyotes and while gamefowl will certainly fight other chickens, there's no guarantee they'll take on large predators. They will fight each other though, so you'd need a seperate pen for each rooster in your corps. I do think it's unfortunate you consider them disposable. Gamefowl are beautiful and intelligent. If you had one brave enough to take on a coyote, it would be a shame to lose it so cruelly.

 

[SarahGfa]

I do think it's unfortunate you consider them disposable. Gamefowl are beautiful and intelligent. If you had one brave enough to take on a coyote, it would be a shame to lose it so cruelly.

"Disposable" is not the word I would use. Do you think soldiers in the US Marine Corps are disposable? I don't. I think they are doing an important and dangerous job, and I am greatful for their service.

 

[ShannonR]

I think the whole idea is sort of impractical. Game roosters will fight one another. Do you really want to put each one in a separate pen, then have to feed, water, and clean each pen on a regular schedule , on a "just in case" basis? What will you do with the cross bred offspring who will also fight one another? You'll look like you are running a gamefowl farm. That is a lot of work, why don't you get yourself a livestock guardian instead. Expecting a rooster to deal with predator issues, especially coyote, is like bringing a slingshot to a gunfight.