Roosters...to have vs not to have

[4fun]

We were not wanting any Roosters--
ended up with 2. Need to find somewhere for them to live out their lives--

Buff Orpington and Brama cross both started crowing about 3 weeks ago
we have 6 total- 4 hens and these 2 that are crowing-- hate to see them go both are very pretty/interesting birds to watch.

any ideas?? live in North Texas area

 

[KatieH]

I've got three cockrels (and only 9 pullets). One is getting sold at the fair this month after he gets shown for 4H, and I'll sell the other one next year. My other cockrel is a white crested black polish. The buff orpington and black giant cockrels don't mess with each other, but if they get near my sweet polish guy, the attack

They get aggressive with the girls sometimes, too. But they pecked half my polish's crest feathers out, so now he's stuck living in the dog kennel until I sell at least one of them. I'm hoping once one is gone the other won't mess with him so much. If he keeps it up I'll make him live in the kennel and let my sweet polish guy back out with the ladies! Our littlest hen loves to snuggle with him!

Anyway, long story short, no I don't think you NEED a rooster. Seem more trouble than they're worth if you don't plan on hatching, imo!

 

[brwneggs]

I have come to a conclusion. The rooster will have a new home. Because #1- there is no way I am going to catch him in winter to put vaseline on his comb and waddle #2 I do not want broody hens or chicks. If we do want more, I will go get some new chicks.
The neighborhood loves him, and so do we, but I did not know what all went along with a rooster. If I could I would put him in a seperate pen. Though, he probably would not like it and the girls would not ether.

Or can it be done???

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

No, he'll hate it. Their goal is to take care of the hen flock. If he can't do that, he'll be miserable. I believe roos do boost egg production though. When I was a kid, back in the 1960's we had a layer house of about 500 birds. We kept 5 or 6 roos with them, because dad said the roosters crow makes them lay more. If you can't trust dad,(R.I.P.) who can you trust?

 

[brwneggs]

Thats why the Amish guy told me and my friend (their family also got a 4 hens and a roo) as well. But what do you do when he pecks on the other hens who are laying on the ground, trying to cool off?

 

[CalebtheChicken]

I love my roosters, a NHR, Silkie mix, and Birchen Cochin. They watch over the hens, yell when there's a hawk so the girls have time to run for cover, run off dogs, my NHR has even KILLED a opussom.
Also hatching eggs is a wonderful thing

The crowing is awsome.
They show were food is, make sure everyone gets some food, etc.
I will always keep roosters

 

[gritsar]

You won't truly appreciate your rooster until you watch him run back and forth in front of an attacking dog, trying to draw the dog's attention away from the hens long enough for the hens to seek cover.

I free range and I won't have a flock without a rooster. If my sexing skills are correct, I now have 6 roosters and every one of them gets to stay unless there's a problem later on.

 

[brwneggs]

Ok, but we dont want chicks- so what do you do than? I have heard that when hens are broody they are awfull!

 

[FireTigeris]

Quote:
Roosters don't make a hen go broody, hormones do- you cannot keep a broody type from going broody- but IF they go broody you can hatch chicks to sell... because the eggs will be fertile

 

[brwneggs]

Thank you! I did not know that. I learned something today about chickens, just like I do everyday.
Quote:
Roosters don't make a hen go broody, hormones do- you cannot keep a broody type from going broody- but IF they go broody you can hatch chicks to sell... because the eggs will be fertile