Roosters… to keep or not to keep?

[Rooski456]

What are the ages? If they are close to a year, and everyone is still getting along - you got lucky.

We are definitely no where near the age to call ourselves lucky unfortunately. All 12 birds are right around 14 weeks. Although hopeful I definitely understand we have a lot to look out for moving forward. I definitely have a leader and the other is very submissive to him at this time. I think as all start maturing more we can expect that to change.

I appreciate your input. I think it’s easy to live in the hope during the “darling stage” as you said, but as you have stated it changes and fast. I refuse to keep a rooster with any human aggression so if/when that starts we will be down a rooster. We have started preparing ourselves from the moment our first “sexed female chick ” started showing signs of being a male so I am not concerned about making the decision to pull one or both if needed. More interested at this time in what I can look out for/ what can help us make a decision on this when it’s time.

 

[Mrs. K]

These are the things I watch for:

• I want a rooster that gives me a bubble of space of about 4-5 feet. Not panicked, just casually moving away from me.
• I want the rooster to be the first bird that sees me, to be aware of his surroundings
• He should keep track of his ladies, and at least try to keep them together, when I come into the run or while free ranging.
• His ladies should dote on his every cluck. The should look mostly besotted with him
• I like his crow.
• He should tidbit and wing dance for his girls

He should not:

• Jump up on things to make himself taller when I come into the run
• He should not glare at me, or give me the stink eye
• He should not sneak behind me - they will often attack from behind
• He should not crow excessively when I come into the run
• He should not fluff or flare up his feathers to make himself look bigger
• He should not pick on hens
• He should not attack me, or bump me or bite me for any reason
• Grandchildren should not upset him

Flock master (I have only had 3 in more than 20 years)

• He breeds with out ruffling a feather, even in August and September there is little to no feather wear.
• He tends to the chicks
• He points out possible nests (hens seldom like his ideas, haha)
• Day time predation is drastically reduced
• There is calmness and peace in the flock
• He produces viable chicks

Now, seldom will you get all of the good traits, most a combination of good and bad. And different people can tolerate different things. There are plenty of people on here who being attacked does not phase them?! You need to see what you can take. But don't make excuses for them, "I startled him, I wore the wrong shoes or color, I touched his hens." Many people who have 'trained' the rooster, really have trained themselves, and that bird can be dangerous to others.

Hope this helps

Mrs K