I have an accidental partridge rock rooster (actually still just a cockeral) from my group of sexed day-olds. I really didn't want a rooster, and thus ordered from a hatchery so that I could get pullets. Well, nature is what it is and I got a roo. After a lot of research, I decided that I am okay with having a rooster, as I understand their role in protecting the girls.
He is only 15 weeks old, but he started showing a comb and distinct rooster traits at only 4 weeks old. He started crowing at 11 weeks. He's been trying to mount the pullets (to their distress!) for a while now. I don't know if he has matured any faster than normal... these are my first chickens so it is hard for me to judge.
Gullincambe, the cockeral in question, is not friendly anymore, but he is not aggressive or mean to us or the hens. He IS rowdy though... chasing the hens (because the hormones are flowing). I can read body language enough to know that he's just feeling the urge to reproduce, and is not showing aggressive tendencies. He is also crowing a lot more, as of the last few days. I might say he is crowing incessantly! It starts a little before dawn (not before, thank goodness) and goes for many hours. Yesterday it was nearly all day. I would really like to keep him... he's a nice fellow, very pretty and is not aggressive. I think he will be a good rooster for the hens, however I am wondering if, after this initial outburst of hormones, he might mellow down a little. I've read other people say that once they finish maturing they mellow out a bit. Is this typical? His crowing is getting to us (and I don't know what the neighbors think...) and that is saying something, considering I have loud parrots. If I just need to grit my teeth and get through the worst of it, that is okay with me. If it doesn't, I am not sure what we will do. I know roosters are programmed to crow. He's doing what he is made to do.... but-- Some are programmed to crow a lot more than others it seems!
Thank you for any input and advice.
Here are a few pictures of him, for fun:
"Not now, baby... the other girls are watching!"
He is only 15 weeks old, but he started showing a comb and distinct rooster traits at only 4 weeks old. He started crowing at 11 weeks. He's been trying to mount the pullets (to their distress!) for a while now. I don't know if he has matured any faster than normal... these are my first chickens so it is hard for me to judge.
Gullincambe, the cockeral in question, is not friendly anymore, but he is not aggressive or mean to us or the hens. He IS rowdy though... chasing the hens (because the hormones are flowing). I can read body language enough to know that he's just feeling the urge to reproduce, and is not showing aggressive tendencies. He is also crowing a lot more, as of the last few days. I might say he is crowing incessantly! It starts a little before dawn (not before, thank goodness) and goes for many hours. Yesterday it was nearly all day. I would really like to keep him... he's a nice fellow, very pretty and is not aggressive. I think he will be a good rooster for the hens, however I am wondering if, after this initial outburst of hormones, he might mellow down a little. I've read other people say that once they finish maturing they mellow out a bit. Is this typical? His crowing is getting to us (and I don't know what the neighbors think...) and that is saying something, considering I have loud parrots. If I just need to grit my teeth and get through the worst of it, that is okay with me. If it doesn't, I am not sure what we will do. I know roosters are programmed to crow. He's doing what he is made to do.... but-- Some are programmed to crow a lot more than others it seems!
Thank you for any input and advice.
Here are a few pictures of him, for fun:
"Not now, baby... the other girls are watching!"