Rooster Spurs

[enoryz]

We both have full time jobs so I don't know if we have the time to put in. We only have about an hour of daylight when we get home summer is different. He's scared off hawks so I don't think not having one is a good thing. But I would love for my whole family to be able to enjoy the flock.

 

[aart]

We've had him since he was 2 days old. Of course as a newbie we didn't realize we had a rooster until he started to try to crow at 18 weeks. We had our suspicions but not fully sure. At that time we noticed a behavioral difference. We figured it was a rooster thing. He has 13 hens with him now and if you go in the pen with something out of the ordinary he attacks. I know how to combat it but the wife doesn't and the kids don't go in without us. Maybe its just time to move on.

Yeah, by then it almost too late.
All the humans in residence need to deal with(dominate) the birds, not so in much of an active way, but by posture and attitude.

We both have full time jobs so I don't know if we have the time to put in. We only have about an hour of daylight when we get home summer is different. He's scared off hawks so I don't think not having one is a good thing. But I would love for my whole family to be able to enjoy the flock.

A secure run is better than a nasty cockerel.
Should have a secure run anyway.....
....cock/erels are often only a speed bump n the way to the predator buffet.

Probably best to get rid of him.


FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[enoryz]

He's made 1yr in October that's why I called him a rooster. I've read that once they start laying that they are called hens but none of them are a year old yet besides the rooster. Although 3 are laying sooo......... . Thanks for the advice. He holds a soft spot in me so it will tuff to do either.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

We both have full time jobs so I don't know if we have the time to put in. We only have about an hour of daylight when we get home summer is different. He's scared off hawks so I don't think not having one is a good thing. But I would love for my whole family to be able to enjoy the flock.

My rooster Henry senses hawks before anyone else. He sounds the alarm quickly and the hens go running into the chicken coop. He also saved them from a coyote attack. When a stray pit bull was walking by on the road, he saw him before I did and once again sounded the alarm. He's a huge help for chicken and ranch security.

In fact, I just upgraded him to Head of Security. The dogs are helpful, but Henry is even better.

If you're interesting in learning how to work with him, just say so. It's not rocket science and doesn't require a lot of time. He's worth saving. I'd give it a good month before making any decisions.

 

[Folly's place]

Here's where I disagree; there are children involved (don't know how old?) and that makes a big difference in any plans to reform this rooster. He will not be safe with the kids, or their friends. A real liability, IMO. Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... my wife went in the pen with a flappy jacket and I guess he didn't like it and got her on the leg.

Roosters and hens too do not like diversity in their lives. Anyone who tells you otherwise is only blowing smoke up your rompers.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Roosters and hens too do not like diversity in their lives. Anyone who tells you otherwise is only blowing smoke up your rompers.

You'll find a rare one (my house boys are both very flexible about things), but no. Flock guarding boys like things pretty predictable. They know what to expect. Certain individuals and breeds will be more tolerant than others, my flock cockerel is very tolerant and has never turned at a human yet regardless of what crazy weird things we wear or do, but his breed is known for docility and he was raised up around our weirdness- he's a bantam cochin.

Chickens are a prey animal so things that change are potentially dangerous.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Yeah, by then it almost too late.
All the humans in residence need to deal with(dominate) the birds, not so in much of an active way, but by posture and attitude.


A secure run is better than a nasty cockerel.
Should have a secure run anyway.....
....cock/erels are often only a speed bump n the way to the predator buffet.

Probably best to get rid of him.


FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

This is good to know, Lane Staley is a cockerel then until April 11, not sure about the new girls actual birthday. He's just starting to get nubs where spurs will grow and I am searching around for ways to deal with them. Are they as useless as dew claws on a dog?

 

[aart]

He's just starting to get nubs where spurs will grow and I am searching around for ways to deal with them. Are they as useless as dew claws on a dog?

They usually aren't problem IME.
Only thing I've ever done was file the very tip off to reduce sharpness,
mostly for my protection when handling him,
and to reduce the possibility of injury to his girls when mating.

Unless they grow so long and/or curved to where they impede his walking or roosting, which could take a couple years, just leave them be.

More useful(barely) than dewclaws, they use them as weapons for fighting.

 

[Jenn1018]

Can you cap them somehow???
My boy is 2 years old and just started attacking me. Coincidentally he just lost his favorite and really only girlfriend. He spent his entire day only following her so I don’t know if this has something to do with it. He just got me real bad and I’m MAD! I’m not brave enough to cut them but a cap of some kind seems like a solution? Anyone done this??