Rooster Saved My Whole Flock

[catharineslover]

I wish I had a digital photo of my favorite rooster Nathan, but this was before the time of iPhones. He was a silver laced Wyandotte who was kind to me, the hens, and all the little kids who always wanted to pet him. I was very luck three roos at that time, and around 30 hens. Nathan was about 6 years old when I came out to the coop in the morning, and saw three dead raccoons. Laid near the dead raccoons was also a dead Nathan. They had entered the coop, and it seems as if Nathan chased them out and gored them. All of my hens and 2 remaining roos were safe inside the coop, huddled together and very visibly uncomfortable and upset. I bawled my eyes out, and we had a funeral for him and his courage. To any new chicken folks who are worried about predators, there are tons of things you can do structure wise to keep them at bay. But in my opinion, my roosters have always been there for the flock in times when I can’t.

I have a rooster now and he is the shepherd of the flock. He is so hardworking! He keeps the hens together and makes a special noise when hawks are near. Then the hens know to run under the deck. He runs madly back and forth on our 1 acre back yard, escorting hens back to the flock when they make their I-just-laid-an-egg call.
He fights with one of my dogs though. Dog is afraid of him but sometimes has to get by him and he has to protect himself when the roo attacks.

 

[Lynn Manes]

What a loyal and fantastic rooster Nathan was. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Martha G]

Nathan sounds like a really amazing rooster. We have a good rooster and thankfully he's never had to fight off raccoons. He does do a great job of taking care of his girls though. The hens just wish he wasn't quite so romantic.

 

[Waves]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Nathan was a so loyal, awesome, kind and unselfish roo.

 

[Barnmaradotte]

We have Silver laced Wyandottes and the roosters are well mannered for the most part. Occasionally you get one that gets a little testy. But our rooster Ricardo is amazing. He lets the kids pet him. He won't allow the younger Roo's to fight. He gets between the the girls and anything he doesn't like the look of. If a hen makes the slightest bit of a distress noise he is there in the blink of an eye.

 

[cate1124]

I wish I had a digital photo of my favorite rooster Nathan, but this was before the time of iPhones. He was a silver laced Wyandotte who was kind to me, the hens, and all the little kids who always wanted to pet him. I was very lucky. I had three roos at that time, and around 30 hens. Nathan was about 6 years old when I came out to the coop in the morning, and saw three dead raccoons. Laid near the dead raccoons was also a dead Nathan. They had entered the coop, and it seems as if Nathan chased them out and gored them. All of my hens and 2 remaining roos were safe inside the coop, huddled together and very visibly uncomfortable and upset. I bawled my eyes out, and we had a funeral for him and his courage. To any new chicken folks who are worried about predators, there are tons of things you can do structure wise to keep them at bay. But in my opinion, my roosters have always been there for the flock in times when I can’t.

Now, there's a creature who understood his calling and lived it to the hilt. I wish more of us were more like him. How wonderful that you had him, and how difficult to lose him. Thanks for sharing this story.

 

[eulogos]

I had a rooster attack a hawk who was about to fly off with a fat hen. The hawk was a few feet off the ground and struggling to rise with the heavy hen. The rooster flew at his face and he dropped the hen, who was ok.
Another story is that of an old mangy coyote, who was separate from a pack and had a den in some high weeds in my large yard in a village. I did not know he was there but kept finding feathers and missing chickens. Then one day I found a dead coyote and a dead top rooster. I know the coyote had to be in very bad shape for a rooster to kill him, but the rooster was still very brave, to take him on.

 

[ShariLynnBradstream]

I wish I had a digital photo of my favorite rooster Nathan, but this was before the time of iPhones. He was a silver laced Wyandotte who was kind to me, the hens, and all the little kids who always wanted to pet him. I was very lucky. I had three roos at that time, and around 30 hens. Nathan was about 6 years old when I came out to the coop in the morning, and saw three dead raccoons. Laid near the dead raccoons was also a dead Nathan. They had entered the coop, and it seems as if Nathan chased them out and gored them. All of my hens and 2 remaining roos were safe inside the coop, huddled together and very visibly uncomfortable and upset. I bawled my eyes out, and we had a funeral for him and his courage. To any new chicken folks who are worried about predators, there are tons of things you can do structure wise to keep them at bay. But in my opinion, my roosters have always been there for the flock in times when I can’t.

Oooh bless his heart. I have lost some veey dear roos and they will always have a place in my heart. Thank goodness he and you had each other.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I wish I had a digital photo of my favorite rooster Nathan, but this was before the time of iPhones. He was a silver laced Wyandotte who was kind to me, the hens, and all the little kids who always wanted to pet him. I was very lucky. I had three roos at that time, and around 30 hens. Nathan was about 6 years old when I came out to the coop in the morning, and saw three dead raccoons. Laid near the dead raccoons was also a dead Nathan. They had entered the coop, and it seems as if Nathan chased them out and gored them. All of my hens and 2 remaining roos were safe inside the coop, huddled together and very visibly uncomfortable and upset. I bawled my eyes out, and we had a funeral for him and his courage. To any new chicken folks who are worried about predators, there are tons of things you can do structure wise to keep them at bay. But in my opinion, my roosters have always been there for the flock in times when I can’t.

I love my blundering cochin just because he is an awkward hilarious goofball, but I fear he'd go and hide and kick his ladies out of his hiding spot if this happened to him. I have a maran roo that is 2 weeks old so I'm hoping he's a good one, gets along with my cochin, and doesn't try to kill me!

I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm happy he died protecting his flock for you. He certainly was a good roo.

 

[TwoCrows]

The OP has asked to have this thread closed. Thank you to all who participated.

-BYC Staff