This post won't be any good for the old folks, but the new comers to chickens it just may.
After about 2 years with the chickens and 6 roosters I've made a decision. I was up to 30 chickens and 3 roosters. A few got just to big for their feathers and lost their head over it. If a rooster will attack me, it will anybody else too. I can handle it but I won't chance it for there. I took 3 others to a sale we have local. I've had my broody's hatch I don't know how many chicks. Some I kept some went to the sale. So at the present I have 10 hens and 2 roosters.
With the attitude of the roosters when these are gone, probably Friday night, no more. Something I have noticed is a rooster may well protect chickens. To an extent they day anyway. But the rooster will take docile chickens and turn them into runners. If a rooster has a fear of whatever, they will see to it the chickens develop the same fear. If anything gets after the rooster, they don't run away for attacker, they will run a circle and back into the flock. It seem like they are trying to get whatever it is after them to get one of the girls and off him.
Rather than hatch chickens on my place, I had just as soon order the breed I want and forgo taking care of the chicks. That part I really didn't have a problem with, I even have one now I got a snake off of. She acts like she remembers it, too.
At any rate I've seen post about whether to have a rooster or not. For me at this time forward, the answer will be no. The hens are calmer and will still do their chicken things. Plus roosters eat and produce nothing. I don't eat chickens here cuz the wife won't cook anything with a feather. Period. That comes from her child hood.
Not to start a debate of argument but just an issue that's been discussed of which I've made my feeling known.
Thanks
Preston.
After about 2 years with the chickens and 6 roosters I've made a decision. I was up to 30 chickens and 3 roosters. A few got just to big for their feathers and lost their head over it. If a rooster will attack me, it will anybody else too. I can handle it but I won't chance it for there. I took 3 others to a sale we have local. I've had my broody's hatch I don't know how many chicks. Some I kept some went to the sale. So at the present I have 10 hens and 2 roosters.
With the attitude of the roosters when these are gone, probably Friday night, no more. Something I have noticed is a rooster may well protect chickens. To an extent they day anyway. But the rooster will take docile chickens and turn them into runners. If a rooster has a fear of whatever, they will see to it the chickens develop the same fear. If anything gets after the rooster, they don't run away for attacker, they will run a circle and back into the flock. It seem like they are trying to get whatever it is after them to get one of the girls and off him.
Rather than hatch chickens on my place, I had just as soon order the breed I want and forgo taking care of the chicks. That part I really didn't have a problem with, I even have one now I got a snake off of. She acts like she remembers it, too.
At any rate I've seen post about whether to have a rooster or not. For me at this time forward, the answer will be no. The hens are calmer and will still do their chicken things. Plus roosters eat and produce nothing. I don't eat chickens here cuz the wife won't cook anything with a feather. Period. That comes from her child hood.
Not to start a debate of argument but just an issue that's been discussed of which I've made my feeling known.
Thanks
Preston.
