Sad day, I will have to rehome...

[Nuggetsowner:)]

I think I am going to have to rehome my roo. He is a great big beautiful Buff Orp. I have been really faithful about handling him everyday and watching for signs of aggression. In this past week he has not really shown signs of aggression toward any of us humans, kids, DH or myself but he will crow and then puff himself up and then try to mate the first thing that comes near him!! I know that you should not let your roo mate in front of you so when I see him do this I tell him NO loudly and then pick him up and carry him for a long time. Usually 20-25 minutes. So far when I put him down he is done with this behavior. That is untill tonight. He did the whole show off thing and then grabbed one of my favorite EE girls. I grabbed him and held him for a long time, at least 1/2 hour. When I put him down he almost immediately did the same thing again. So, I picked him up and held him upside down untill he was calm. Then I carried him around for another 25 minutes. When I put him down he started crowing alot and seemed like he was sizing me up. I really wanted to stay in the run and continue this showdown but I had to leave. I had already been in there over an hour and I needed to make dinner for the family. So, my DH and I talked and he wants me to rehome him. We had a bad experience with one rooster already and he is worried that our BO will hurt one of our kids. Is this kind of aggression OK in your opinion. Does this mean he will probably not attack any of our family. Wouldn't he have tried it already or do you think people are just the next step. I really want to be able to keep a roo!! I really do like him he is huge and very beautiful!! Thanks for your opinions!!

 

[Knight Hawk Ranch]

I sure didn't know that you are not supposed to let a Roo do his job. So long as he doesn't show aggression towards humans I would say you are alright in keeping him.

God put Roos on earth for 3 things...protecting the flock, propagating, and eating.

 

[ChickenToes]

I didn't know that either...

I agree with Knight Hawk Ranch, if he's not aggressive toward you or your hens, I'd keep him.

 

[2boxers]

I am new, so pardon me, but why aren't you supposed to let them mate in front of you? This could be a huge problem for me, since I have six hens (eight if you count my bantams, but all my other chickens are terrified of the White Ninja Sisters) and five roos. I can't spend my entire day toting roosters around.

 

[redkan]

Nuggetsowner :

I know that you should not let your roo mate in front of you

Why not? Although I don't know many chicken people I've never heard that.....​

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

I can't remember who it was but on this forum a few people gave me this advice back when we were having problems with our other roo. I will try to go back and figure it out.

 

[redhen]

ooh i feel so bad for you!..i wish i could give you advice!..i have to get rid of roo's also(for noise reasons..don't want neighbors upset)..but i wish i could keep one also!...why not just wait to see if he starts to act aggressive?..as in...keep the kids away(if its possiable?)..and if he acts agressive towards you..than well...he has to go..i have heard of some people keeping them with no problems.....i wish you luck!...it sucks having to get rid of an animal you care about...

...best wishes..Wendy

 

[dogzrule5]

I hadn't heard that either. I have too many roosters and every once in a while they will challenge me when I turn my back on them - especially if I'm not wearing jeans.

I just give it right back to them so they know I'm the big kahuna so to speak.

Two of the four are extremely rough with the hens so I have them in a pen by themselves with the huge Big Rooster. Only the small rooster, Woodstock, gets the privilege of being with the girls 24/7.

btw 2boxers...five roos for six hens is really rough on the hens. You might want to consider giving the girls a break by making a separate area for the boys.

 

[swtangel321]

LOL, when we let the chickens free range my rooster always gets to due his "thing" more b/c the hens arent paying attention to him, The hubby cheers him on and then tells me how lucky the rooster is with all his hens and how much he gets it

 

[tiffanyh]

I have read that many times over the years from many people-and I belive that is true also. You are the top roo around him, and if he is allowed to mate with you around, he may feel like he "rules the roost", so to speak.

When my young roos try that, I push them off with my foot. I dont carry them around....I also make sure that before I leave the pen after that, that my roo runs from me a bit when I go to grab him. I am dealing with that now since I have a teenage roo in one pen. My other pen has my banty roo who has NEVER EVER mount in front of me and is a nice calm roo, with little to no agression. (And he is mounting them when I am not around, as I have hatched many an egg from him!)

I wouldnt give up yet, I just wouldnt spend so much time in there holding him if you have other things to do, he may just be a teenager trying to test the deal.