Should I Get A Rooster????

[Kaleighgurl97]

I keep going back in forth on my decision to get a rooster. I am going to be ordering 15-20 chicks this Spring from Meyer Hatchery. (Unless I find a better alternative than ordering them online) I live in Virginia and the coop I am building is nearly finished. Some people have told me that having a rooster keeps the hens from pecking at each other and keeps harmony in the coop. People also say that roosters can be aggressive and I really don't want to be attacked by him. I want a close pet-like relationship with my chickens and don't want the rooster getting mad if I try to pet them or something. I am planning on getting black australorps, buff orpingtons, golden buffs, and easter eggers. So should I get a Rooster or not? If so, what breed?

(My boyfriend had about 15 rhode island red hens and they started pecking each other to death. He then got a rhode island rooster and the pecking stopped. The rooster is VERY aggressive though and attacks and spurs him whenever he enters the coop.)

Thanks!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, indeed, roosters do help to keep the peace among the hens. But not all hens tear each other apart with out one. I don't keep a rooster either as I too have no desire to be flogged! My hens are pretty good with each other. Probably not quite as nice as they would be to each other if I kept a rooster, but still they are all doing quite well. When you only keep hens, you have to make sure to give them ample room. Never cram them in as this is when tempers do flare. So make sure you have excess space if you choose not to keep a rooster. Space is the key here.

This is such a personal choice. Roosters are great protectors, they offer you the chance to have natural hatches with the broodies, and some roosters are a real joy to have around. Love the crowing as well! So it is entirely up to you.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

Welcome to BYC!

I have 3 roosters for my 3 flocks, and I will always keep roosters with my girls. Roosters are good for many things, including protection for the flock. And of course you'll have fertile eggs, if you decide to incubate them to replenish the flock (or whatever excuse you come up with for incubating eggs

). Incubation is an addiction, and I warn you, it's contagious.

As for aggressiveness, my very first rooster was aggressive. The 3 I have now are great. They have a healthy respect for me and keep their distance, but they do not try to flog me either.

Every rooster is different. Some breeds tend to be more aggressive than others, but it really depends on the rooster. I have heard aggression can be hereditary too. My first roo, the mean one, was a Black Copper Marans. My current roosters are EE, Game, and 1 large white Mutt.

I have no experience with Orpingtons, but I have heard many people say they are a great starter breed for newbies. They are great layers, and the chickens tend to be very docile. Personally, I love my mutts the best. They are hardy, gentle, and let me pet them. They are dependable layers, and just all around great chickens.

There's nothing wrong with hatcheries, but I would suggest to get your chicks locally if you can.

Find your state thread on this site. Many users on this site are able to deal locally with other users they meet in their state thread.

Whatever you do, have fun with it, and spend lots of time on BYC!

Seriously, though, I've learned so much from the people on here, and of course from my own trial-and-errors. Besides, this site is FUN!!

Good luck on your chicken journey!

 

[Kaleighgurl97]

Welcome to BYC!

I have 3 roosters for my 3 flocks, and I will always keep roosters with my girls. Roosters are good for many things, including protection for the flock. And of course you'll have fertile eggs, if you decide to incubate them to replenish the flock (or whatever excuse you come up with for incubating eggs

). Incubation is an addiction, and I warn you, it's contagious.

As for aggressiveness, my very first rooster was aggressive. The 3 I have now are great. They have a healthy respect for me and keep their distance, but they do not try to flog me either.

Every rooster is different. Some breeds tend to be more aggressive than others, but it really depends on the rooster. I have heard aggression can be hereditary too. My first roo, the mean one, was a Black Copper Marans. My current roosters are EE, Game, and 1 large white Mutt.

I have no experience with Orpingtons, but I have heard many people say they are a great starter breed for newbies. They are great layers, and the chickens tend to be very docile. Personally, I love my mutts the best. They are hardy, gentle, and let me pet them. They are dependable layers, and just all around great chickens.

There's nothing wrong with hatcheries, but I would suggest to get your chicks locally if you can.

Find your state thread on this site. Many users on this site are able to deal locally with other users they meet in their state thread.

Whatever you do, have fun with it, and spend lots of time on BYC!

Seriously, though, I've learned so much from the people on here, and of course from my own trial-and-errors. Besides, this site is FUN!!

Good luck on your chicken journey!

I do want to try to breed my chickens when they are older. I have read that most of the eggs when you have a rooster are fertile. I plan on collecting the eggs every morning and afternoon.. So when I think some eggs are fertile do I just put them into and incubator and wait? I know I wont be able to tell if they are fertile for at least a couple days, right?

 

[dekel18042]

My guess: If you get 15-25 sexed girls (unles you pick sex links) from a hatchery, you will get 1 or 2 boys so you won't really have to "buy" a rooster. Most hatcheries guarantee their picks to be 90-95% correct.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Some good points about keeping roosters above. If this is your first go at raising chickens, I would consider starting with just hens.... you can always add a rooster later, since if you really like chickens you will probably wind up getting more anyhow. And since you are planning on a mixed flock, you can decide what breed you like best and get one of those roos and have that breed be purebred.
If the rooster is doing his job, after a couple of days with the hens, most of the eggs should be fertile, just crack some open and if they are you can figure the rest are. There is no way to tell if an egg is fertile unless you crack it open. You can tell if incubating eggs are developing starting by day 4 or so usually if you candle them. This is a really good Learning Center article on hatching eggs https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[Kaleighgurl97]

Hello

and Welcome To BYC! Some good points about keeping roosters above. If this is your first go at raising chickens, I would consider starting with just hens.... you can always add a rooster later, since if you really like chickens you will probably wind up getting more anyhow. And since you are planning on a mixed flock, you can decide what breed you like best and get one of those roos and have that breed be purebred.
If the rooster is doing his job, after a couple of days with the hens, most of the eggs should be fertile, just crack some open and if they are you can figure the rest are. There is no way to tell if an egg is fertile unless you crack it open. You can tell if incubating eggs are developing starting by day 4 or so usually if you candle them. This is a really good Learning Center article on hatching eggs https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Thank you! That was very helpful.

 

[sourland]

What deckle has said may very well be the case. Get your 15 to 25 'pullets' and then if all really are pullets you can add a rooster of proven temperament to your flock.

 

[drumstick diva]

Once you have 20 posts you can participate in the Buy,sell, trade forum. There are always some good roosters available for reasonable prices - simply because many towns don't allow them, and you only need one rooster for about 10 hens. You can have your choice of breeds. There is no reason to put up with an aggressive rooster.

Roosters aren't always what they are cracked up to be - some run and hide if they see a predator.
One rooster can't do all that much to protect his flock- even if he does try he will likely end up being killed and then your chickens are as defenseless as tho they never had one.

If you want real protection get a Livestock guardian dog(they work best in pairs)

 

[Fluffers]