should i add a Rooster??? HELP!!

[leahcim823]

So i have 3 amber-links, 3 red sex-links, and 2 barred rocks all pullets between 12-16 weeks old, and had someone offer me a 18 week old road island red rooster, i don't really have a place to keep him separate, i have a extra large metal dog crate i can put him in for the beginning though.
Should i take him??

 

[Folly's place]

Ideally, the new cockrel would be a bit younger than the pullets, but at 18 weeks, you will be able to evaluate his temperment to some degree. ANY aggression towards humans won't be good! I think there are three issues; his health and the health of his flock of origin, his behavior, and his conformation. There are a LOT of cockrels out there (how about of mine?!?) so you should be able to choose wisely and enjoy. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Ideally, the new cockrel would be a bit younger than the pullets, but at 18 weeks, you will be able to evaluate his temperment to some degree. ANY aggression towards humans won't be good! I think there are three issues; his health and the health of his flock of origin, his behavior, and his conformation. There are a LOT of cockrels out there (how about of mine?!?) so you should be able to choose wisely and enjoy. Mary

 

[donrae]

Just cause someone offered him doesn't mean you have to take him. Do you really WANT a rooster? Are you comfortable being dominant and having this bird not be a pet? Are you familiar with chicken mating and how difficult it can be for us humans to watch, especially at first? Are you good with crowing all day and often at night, esp if there's a full moon?

Not meaning to come across mean or anything, but these are questions you need to think on before you get a rooster. We start thinking we have to take any bird that's offered to us, no matter if they fit with our plan or not.

 

[leahcim823]

Well, we have been thinking of getting a rooster since we got our chicks, (I was secretly hoping one was a rooster ). I have had chickens in the past growing up at my parents house, so the crowing is no big deal.

I have been researching a little bit, and was just thinking that having a rooster would be nice, if he turns out to be a good pretector and takes care of his girls. And can't you be dominate and still have him as a pet?? That confuses me a little.

 

[Ellochicken]

My friend has a rooster, and it wakes her up at 5:45 EVERY MORNING! Just take that into consideration, and check with local city/town laws and see if you can actually HAVE a rooster on your property. And it might bug the crap out of neighbors.
P.S!
The rooster that wakes my friend up every morning has a very loud crow and isnt far from her bedroom window, but just keep that in mind.

-Ellochicken

 

[leahcim823]

Luckily my closes neighbor is my great grandma about a mile down the road and she is deaf!! Lol we are pretty secluded in the woods. But will def. check with the neighbors a few miles down the road, although they are also family and are going to benefit from the fresh eggs so I don't think they will mind...

I don't know maybe we will weight until the littlest are a little older. I was just thinking if i got him before they started laying it might just postpone there laying instead of them stopping for a while once they have started!!
I'm on that count down with some of my girls!! Some are turning red and very chatty!!!

 

[leahcim823]

And yes I know I don't need the rooster to have eggs