Rooster???

[chookchick]

You can try working with your rooster a la Rooster Red's technique, hopefully he will start responding right away. Don't be mean, but let him know who the boss is. Some roosters can't ever be reformed--IMHO they should become dinner. Don't keep a roo just because he might break up a fight one day, keep him because he is fun to have around and takes care of the ladies.

 

[wings]

Quote:
"A la Rooster Red's technique"? I'm new to chickens. What's this?

 

[Bec]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2588-Roo_behavior

 

[wings]

Thanks a bunch! That really seems helpful!

 

[chickenannie]

I don't think it makes any difference if you have a rooster in terms of introducing new birds to your flock.

I can't tell if you've experienced any of the problems you mention, or if you're just reading about other roo's behaviors.

You don't "need" to have a rooster at all, unless you want baby chicks. I would base your decision on that. Or, just keep him, then, if you have behavioral problems, I would sell him or make stew. My free-range roosters never gave me any problems -- there ARE lots of nice ones out there. The only situation I would be take early precautions on, are if you have small children -- because if the roo suddenly showed bad behavior, you don't want him pecking or spurring your kids. If your kids are older than it's not such a big deal to have a rooster fly at them. And if your kids are older, and roos behaves badly, you can get rid of him then.

Typically you should have a ratio of 1:12 or 1:15 hens, but if he's not very aggressive, he may be ok with the 10 hens.

The crowing might be the reason you get rid of him too. If that happens every day, it would certainly become annoying. That's enough reason to sell him -- lack of sleep.

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

I love to hear a rooster crow my growing up on a farm as a child..don't mind it a bit..a distant neighbor here has chickens apparently as I hear the rooster crow and that is what made me want to have chickens and my hubby went along with it and started building..been at it since November.

 

[wings]

I have seen aggression in my old rooster, but our new one hasn't been nearly as bad. I just wanted to take everything into account when considering whether or not we should keep him long term. He would get tough after a while, wouldn't he?

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

That is what someone told me recently here to butcher roos by 16 weeks..besides will cut down on the feed cost here.

 

[wings]

We just recently ate our 6 month old rooster, and he was fine. (Tastewise, I mean.)

 

[Akane]

I know a couple people who have had to cull their roos because their hubbies were getting hunted down if they went outside. One, he couldn't turn his back on his roo because it would attack without reason. I don't know if this is a breed thing or if all roos do it when the hens get broody. I have small children who are boys...couldn't have that. Check into the breed specifics would be my advise...some are moodier than others. I wonder...do chickens have a sense of smell? Can they sense the hormones in men. I've never heard of women being attacked by roos. By the by, this mans wife was quite chummy with their roo and was quite attached to him. I wonder if the roo thought she was one of his hens?

Birds have a horrible sense of smell. They make up for it with good eye sight. It's likely they are picking up on something else including just a different attitude coming from the men than the women. I've had lots of animals that were more fearful of men and usually any shyer animal reacts more strongly around men than women.

There are some breeds where the roos are much less likely to be cause problems. Calmer breeds and some of the smaller bantams can be good ones to try. I have 3 japanese bantam roos and not a problem with any of them. Even if they did get agressive 2 of the 3 hardly weigh a pound. Then I have a standard size mutt roo from calm breeds who also has given me no trouble. They do crow and Dameru, the larger of the jap roos, has charged my 80lb dog before when she tried to pin one of his hens as she ran by but they have never shown aggression to me. My jap roos are some of my best pet chickens and I keep one in the house with 2 hens. I've been advertising many of my extra japs as good for a 4-h or child's flock for that reason.

Shi would be a horrible protector. He hides behind his hens.

Dameru though is going to be the first one eaten should any predators approach my flock. I've heard of lots of roos including tiny bantams protecting their flock from dogs and wild animals. Many times at the cost of their own lives.​