Roosters: The Good The Bad & The Ugly

[ChicknBaron]

Out of curiosity, meaning no disrespect, how many roosters do you have?

I only ask because your signature line says a 6 bird flock and they are described as all hens and one rooster.

After the above quote, I am wondering when you experienced the "demon spawn birds that seem to live / breath evil"?

Let me stress, I am not TROLLING or trying to start anything... I am just Peacefully trying to get a handle on what you are using as the foundation of your beliefs...Is it from a personal experience or something you read?

I, also, don't want to offend the original poster by taking this off topic. It's fine I don't mind...

I will state for the record, getting birds from a hatchery is more of a gamble than from a breeder. If you want to make sure, hedge your bets, that you get a docile rooster from chick to maturity, then talking to a breeder about the personality of their own stock is important. I will give reddrgn this.... some breeds can go either way. Take marans for example, some folks have had issues with the personalities of their birds and others like me have had no issues. The one bird I had that was nasty I refused to breed or sell... He made great chicken and dumplings : ) They are suppose to be good natured birds, BUT there have been some unscrupulous breeders and the result has been some birds with nasty attitudes. THINK PUPPY MILL and you will get what I am saying

 

[math ace]

: it just seemed right to have a roo with 5 other hens. But then again he was sort of a double-edged sword, because he also was pretty rough on them (They were very pretty hens until he got all lovey on them, and messed up all there nice plumage)

. And of course the crowing was cool at first but then got annoying and then i started worrying that if the neighbors complained then I'd get all of my chickens taken away, and i definitely didn't want that.

Going back to the original post....

One roo with 5 hens.... You may want to add a few more hens. I like to see my roos with at least 7 hens. More hens means he has to spread his loving around a little more. HOWEVER, he will still have his favorite girls. Who wants to go chase sassy Susan when easy Emily is around. I do use saddles on my roo's favorite girls.

Crowing....ahhhh.....that goes with the terriotory. Boys will be boys and roosters will crow! It doesn't matter how docile the sweet boy is, he is still going to crow! I have a delaware rooster that not only crows, but whines. Yes, you read correctly.... He crows to annouce himself to the other birds, but he does a high pitch whine to get my attention. If he sees me with the treat bucket and I don't get to his pen quick enough he whines. Who Knew roosters could whine ?

 

[Frizzle13]

I hve a mixed breed roo a a frizzle roo. The mongrel is both beautiful boy and caring hubby. I think he's a cream legbar cros. My frizzle can be a bit enthusiastic but never harms the hens. I think it's because he's that bit smaller. I Know that bantams tend to be bit more feisty.

 

[ChicknBaron]

Going back to the original post....

One roo with 5 hens.... You may want to add a few more hens. I like to see my roos with at least 7 hens. More hens means he has to spread his loving around a little more. HOWEVER, he will still have his favorite girls. Who wants to go chase sassy Susan when easy Emily is around. I do use saddles on my roo's favorite girls.

Crowing....ahhhh.....that goes with the terriotory. Boys will be boys and roosters will crow! It doesn't matter how docile the sweet boy is, he is still going to crow! I have a delaware rooster that not only crows, but whines. Yes, you read correctly.... He crows to annouce himself to the other birds, but he does a high pitch whine to get my attention. If he sees me with the treat bucket and I don't get to his pen quick enough he whines. Who Knew roosters could whine ?

I HAD 1 roo and 5 hens but now i have no roo and 8 hens... Whats a saddle? where can i get one?

 

[math ace]

I HAD 1 roo and 5 hens but now i have no roo and 8 hens... Whats a saddle? where can i get one?

These are saddles and there is a lady right here on BYC that makes some of the best quality and best priced saddles.



Here is a link to her auction ad...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...diapers-harnesses-great-prices-check-them-out

 

[ChicknBaron]

Thanks for the link, i texted her phone, do you kbow if she ever checks it?

 

[MsSilkie]

OMG chicken saddles.. Amazing.. I am a farm raised, city living girl and I have never seen these or heard of them in Australia.. What a brilliant idea. My poor Silkie cross rooster needs reins I wonder if one could be retro fitted.. Smiles

 

[ChicknBaron]

Thanks a bunch Math ace! I ordered 3

and by the way, Mssilkie, you can have the lady i got my saddles from sew on a ring for a leash... so that's kinda like reigns, haha... i don't know anybody who walks their chickens but...

 

[KYTinpusher]

Perhaps I missed it, but I did not read any tips on handling roos, so I thought I would add my $.02 worth.

Never kick or hit a rooster. Even trying to hold then off or brush them away with your foot will be taken as a threat and they will defend themselves and their flock. Once they perceive you as a threat, you probably will never change their attitude. Handling them often as they are growing up may keep them from getting aggressive. If not, as soon as they start to challenge you, you have to establish your dominance. When they challenge you, pick them up by their legs and hold them upside down in front of the entire flock (embarrassment city for a roo!) until he puts his head down and gives in. Not long - 20-30 seconds should do it; if not gently take his head and pull it down to make him give in. Then, turn him upright and backwards to you, put his head under your armpit (sticking out the back just enough to breathe) and carry him around like that for awhile. I find it helpful to have a conversation with him at this point that my crockpot is dying to meet him if his attitude doesn't improve. After awhile just put him down gently. He should just walk or run away in shame.

If you catch them early enough, many roos will then respect that you are not there to harm them and you are higher in the pecking order and charging you is not a good idea. Most of my roos have caught on after one attitude adjustment session. Some took two. The most stubborn may take three, Those that didn't get it after three sessions were banished to freezer camp. I don't put up with mean roosters.

How do y'all handle them?

 

[math ace]

Thanks for the link, i texted her phone, do you kbow if she ever checks it?

I've ordered from her several times over the last couple of years. I've always pm her. If she does get back within 24 hours, I would try that...