ROOSTERS

[grannyhensdream]

I have 15 hens and one very beautiful rooster (unplanned). I have no intention of hatching new chicks. My goal is strictly for eggs. My hens are sweet and very social but my rooster makes it uncomfortable. (They don't free range.) When I go to change food and water he jumps at me at times, not always but it does make me nervous when I go in not knowing what to expect. I have read about taming and when I use the technique he often backs down but I don't trust him. To cull him is disturbing to me but am I looking at the need to do that? He has control of all the hens, walks out of the pen on the morning first to 'check out the scene' and then as the hens slowly come out he does chase one or two and ends up humping them. I feel it would be so much more peaceful for all of us if he weren't around as he gives me anxiety and maybe a bit to the hens too. Anyone????

 

[DobieLover]

If you don't want him or want to put the time into changing his behavior, advertise him with full disclosure on your local Craigslist and local FB Poultry groups for rehoming. Rehoming IS culling. Culling just means removing from your flock.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Keeping an unwanted rooster is not worth harming your mental health and personal safety. List him on craiglist for a week or two if you don't want to butcher yourself. There are quite a few people who will pick up free roosters to butcher for a free meal. If there are no takers do what you must. It's never pleasant to have to cull an animal, but sometimes it must be done.

 

[crazychickenman007]

I would try what DobieLover suggested first. If after that you can’t find a home for him then I would consider freezer camp. How old is he? Aggression is never a good thing and will probably only get worse. You don’t want an unwanted bird to ruin the idea of chicken keeping for you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have 15 hens and one very beautiful rooster (unplanned). I have no intention of hatching new chicks. My goal is strictly for eggs. When I go to change food and water he jumps at me at times

Then there is no reason to keep him. There is reason to get rid of him. If he is human aggressive toward you he is also a danger to others, especially young kids that may not be able to fight him off. Young kids' eyes are at a level he could severely damage with his claws or especially his beak. He could injure you too.

There is no reason to keep him. You don't want hatching eggs, he is eating feed without laying eggs, the hens do not need him around to lay eggs. He is a financial burden and a physical risk. Many of us keep males without it being a problem but several of us are better off without a male around.

and then as the hens slowly come out he does chase one or two and ends up humping them.

To me this is normal and natural, the way a flock should work. This does not mean he is upsetting the girls or disrupting the flock. But it sounds like he is upsetting you when he does that. Youi may not be a person that needs to have a rooster around anyway. There are plenty of people that feel that way, you are not alone.

But that doesn't matter, he is human aggressive. He needs to go.

What are your options? You can eat him or kill him and dispose of the body. Not sure where you are so I'm not sure what is available to you but standard options are to advertise him on the internet, in the USA that might mean Craigslist. Chat with the people at your feed store, they might know someone that will take him or allow you to put a notice on a bulletin board. You may be able to find your state or country thread on the "Where am I? Where are you!" section of this forum and chat with your neighbors. You can start a thread in the "Buy, Sell, Trade" section of this forum, mentioning your location in the thread title so you attract the attention of the people you want to read your post.

 

[Mrs. K]

Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people. Some people almost seem to feel that if you accidently got a rooster, they need to keep him. You don't. Often times, people who love animals are uncomfortable with dispatching one. That is a normal response, but it is not normal to keep something that is not working out for you.

Advertise, contact your county extension agent, contact your local poultry club or a 4H club. If they don't want him, they may know someone who does. If someone offers to take him, he is their rooster, to do with according to their plans, do not ask any questions.

Mrs K

 

[grannyhensdream]

If you don't want him or want to put the time into changing his behavior, advertise him with full disclosure on your local Craigslist and local FB Poultry groups for rehoming. Rehoming IS culling. Culling just means removing from your flock.

Thank you!

 

[grannyhensdream]

Keeping an unwanted rooster is not worth harming your mental health and personal safety. List him on craiglist for a week or two if you don't want to butcher yourself. There are quite a few people who will pick up free roosters to butcher for a free meal. If there are no takers do what you must. It's never pleasant to have to cull an animal, but sometimes it must be done.

Thanks so much. It is a tough decision. I am still hopeful we can make peace.

 

[grannyhensdream]

I would try what DobieLover suggested first. If after that you can’t find a home for him then I would consider freezer camp. How old is he? Aggression is never a good thing and will probably only get worse. You don’t want an unwanted bird to ruin the idea of chicken keeping for you.

He is about 5 months old. He is fine at times and at other times no problem. I am going to continue to try to make peace with him and hope that it can work out. Thanks for your reply.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks so much. It is a tough decision. I am still hopeful we can make peace.

Don’t hang on to him for too long. I think many of us have kept an aggressive rooster longer than we should have, hoping for the best. I’ve had chickens long enough that I no longer hesitate to get rid of a rooster that’s giving me grief. I keep chickens for eggs, meat and for the enjoyment of watching them. If I have to constantly be on guard when I’m doin chores, I don’t enjoy it, and I’m not going to put up with that. Don’t keep a human aggressive bird.