Roosters or not??

[ChickNanny13]

Since your Mom says "no chicks", best to rehome the cockerels. The pullets will figure out their pecking order and rule themselves.

 

[bobbi-j]

Having cockerels does not mean there has to be chicks. Collect your eggs every day, do a head count every night when you lock them up to make sure you don’t have a broody somewhere, and there will be no chicks.

I will share with you what I feel is a good cockerel/rooster and how I raise them. It’s not necessarily the “right” way, but it’s what works for me. (There are as many “right” ways to keep chickens as there are chicken keepers.)

In my opinion, a good cockerel/rooster keeps his distance from me, and respects my space. He will be diligent, watching for potential threats to the flock, but smart enough to realize I am not one of those threats. (Saying a human aggressive rooster is “just doing his job” is nonsense and a poor excuse for having a bad-mannered rooster. It’s kind of like saying your dog is “just doing his job” when he guards your own house from you.)

When I recognize a cockerel, I stop handling them. I distance myself from them and start "rooster training camp". I don't go around them if they are between where I am and where I want to be. I just walk through them and make them move. Sometimes I don't have to be going anywhere. I will still just walk right through them so they know I am the boss. If one starts getting in my space, walking toward me, sizing me up or showing other behaviors that make me think he's even considering the fact that he's dominant over me, I again will move toward him confidently and make sure he moves out of my way. Sometimes I will move one away from the feeder just because I can. I don't prevent them from eating for long - I just want him to remember that his existence is because I allow it. Watch for him "dancing" around you, dropping a wing, or sneaking up behind you. These are all behaviors that can indicate that he's trying to decide if he should come after you. Not all cockerels/roosters are human aggressive, but you need to be prepared for it. You also have to have a plan in case one does become so.

Now, having said all that, I would like to suggest that if this is your first flock, I'd ditch both boys and spend at least this first year getting used to chicken keeping without them. As Mrs. K says, roosters are a crap shoot. You may get a good one, you may not. If you want your hens to be friendly toward you, just keep the hens. When you have a rooster, they are more dependent on him than they are on you (which is how it should be since he's another chicken). Whichever way you decide, I hope you enjoy your birds. It's a great hobby.

 

[Mrs. K]

Now, having said all that, I would like to suggest that if this is your first flock, I'd ditch both boys and spend at least this first year getting used to chicken keeping without them. As Mrs. K says, roosters are a crap shoot. You may get a good one, you may not. If you want your hens to be friendly toward you, just keep the hens. When you have a rooster, they are more dependent on him than they are on you (which is how it should be since he's another chicken). Whichever way you decide, I hope you enjoy your birds. It's a great hobby.[/QUOTE]

Just exactly what I was going to say: cull both birds, get some experience, work into the hobby slowly, maybe next year start some new chicks, maybe get a rooster then.

Mrs K

 

[bobbi-j]

Now, having said all that, I would like to suggest that if this is your first flock, I'd ditch both boys and spend at least this first year getting used to chicken keeping without them. As Mrs. K says, roosters are a crap shoot. You may get a good one, you may not. If you want your hens to be friendly toward you, just keep the hens. When you have a rooster, they are more dependent on him than they are on you (which is how it should be since he's another chicken). Whichever way you decide, I hope you enjoy your birds. It's a great hobby.

Just exactly what I was going to say: cull both birds, get some experience, work into the hobby slowly, maybe next year start some new chicks, maybe get a rooster then.

Mrs K[/QUOTE]
I've been reading your advice for enough years, Mrs. K, I am just parroting what I've read from you. I think it's good advice.

 

[roo&girls]

I really enjoy my Rooster. I am however having some trouble with him not being so nice and territorial. I’m a newbie and would like to keep him.

 

[llombardo]

Why jump to culling them? Why is it always cull the rooster? I'm very biased towards roosters. I complete enjoy them and find it sad they are so disposable.

I'm learning a lot from my boys and I wouldn't part with them for anything. I can handle the girls(if they squawk I do get a babawk out of him), he keeps his distance, but the best thing is he has alerted me to predators. Why wouldn't anybody want that? I do not want any chicks, so eggs are collected daily. It's pretty simple.

I say watch them, observe and see how they do. They are learning too. If it comes foen to seperating them, you can find homes for them or keep the boys together out of sight of the girls. There are options here. It's up to you to decide and I wish you luck.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Everyone has different opinions on the thought of keeping roosters. It's actually a large topic that often binds conversations with disagreeance... albeit that- you're free to follow up on what works most for you. Like everybody, we have our own ideas of keeping a healthy flock.

Roosters, IMO, have mutiple jobs for being part of the flock but sometimes can be cons too. If a fox had entered the run to fetch some dinner... doubtfully would the rooster stop him. He may try to fight or scare the predator away from his hens, but chances are that the fox ought to win.
Granted this scenario is a thorn in your plan, the rooster can warn the flock's owner. Whether it's crowing for you to hear or distracting the fox so the hens have time to escape, he may just save the egg layer's life.
That's job #1 for Mr. Rooster. But there's plenty more.

A rooster can always be breeding stock. You may not be in the mood this Spring or the next to hatch some chicks -but let's say something happened to your flock or they stopped laying- you can always have a costless backup plan.
And my last job for Mr. Rooster is the idea of them being a protective, handsome, sometimes very appreciative of their owner, creature.

So- instead of culling the innocent roos that belong to your flock... consider rehoming them by putting them up on Craigslist or giving to a close friend, or consider saving one of them as a flock-mate.

There's different ideas that may work for you and your flock. Which one has a better personality towards you and the hens? That may just be your flock's next protector.

To me, a rooster can comfort the hens depending on their disposition. They are taken for granted and certainly underrated when really can be wonderful for you.

Also, I've owned this very friendly Orpington rooster in the past, Rusty, in fact. They are good birds and I wouldn't trade the hens for the world. Sophia, the first hen I ever owned in which is still with me, is like a friend too.

Best of luck and God bless! Sorry for ranting- I'm hoping my words may just to justice for your perspective.