School me on keeping Roosters...

[greytmommy]

I have not researched it...b/c from the get-go of deciding to get chickens we have said "No Roosters!". Well....now that the chicks are here, and we are already attached....we keep thinking w/ the placement of our coop and the distance to the neighbor's houses it might not be a problem. So we might not have to get rid of them.

So....school me!

can I have more than one rooster? (I do have a friend w/ a farm that offered to take a rooster off my hands if I need them too). I dont really WANT chicks....at least, not right now. Can I prevent that if I have a rooster? Anything else I need to know? Any good reasons for keeping a rooster around??

 

[noitulover]

can I have more than one rooster?
Technically, yes, but often times to be on the safer side, no. Some people have great luck keeping more than one roo over a flock of hens. (I'm assuming you mean in the same coop and that you don't have multiple coops/runs.) I think people also have better luck if the roos were raised together and are used to each other. I have one roo over a flock of 20 hens right now. I love the little guy and wouldn't want him to get into a fight.


I dont really WANT chicks....at least, not right now. Can I prevent that if I have a rooster?

Yes, although many/some/all of your eggs may be fertilized. If a hen goes broody on eggs and you leave her there, many will probably hatch. If a hen goes broody, then take the eggs out from under her immediately and you can replace them with golf balls or wooden eggs.


Anything else I need to know? Any good reasons for keeping a rooster around??
A rooster is great for showing the hens where worms are and keeping a watch over the flock. My girls listen to my roo's every sound! I would highly recommend having a rooster if it is legal in your area. If it is not, I wouldn't push it. That is how many neighborhoods get chickens banned. DH and I live on a big farm, but I can still hear a neighbor's rooster over 1/4 of a mile away. (across an entire hay field, and through the woods)

 

[Illia]

You will only get chicks from a rooster if you incubate the eggs for 21 days in an incubator or under a broody hen.

You can have roosters, you can have more than 1 infact. (My "bachelor pad" usually houses anywhere from 9-25 roosters at once) They're basically a lot like hens but don't lay eggs, are much friendlier in general, and can indeed fight. If raised together they will not fight or fight much less often.

My boys are more pets than my girls, honestly.

 

[greytmommy]

ok, thanks so much!

I have 10 chicks right now, and they are all doing great. 5 of them were straight run bantams, so we are expecting there will probably be more than one Roo. I like them all so much right now, I couldnt imagine having to give one away!!!! I dont live in a neighborhood. It is a small street of houses in the middle of the woods. We all have 3+ acres. One family up the street has about 15 chickens and a roo or two. So it isnt against any rules...but I also dont want my neighbors getting upset either.

 

[greytmommy]

are there breeds of Roo's that tend to be quieter than others?? The straigt runs we got are silkies and maybe bantam cochins. How are they in terms of loudness??