Should I Keep My Cockerels?

[Lkase]

So I got six Buff Orpington pullets this spring and it looks like two of them are actually cockerels. One of them I am about 99% sure and the other about 75% sure. This will leave me with only four hens. I am wondering if I should wait and see how everything plays out or if I should try to find a home for one or both of them. I don't have any experience with rooster and I have young children that I want to be able to enjoy the experience of raising chickens. I am open to keeping them (or at least one) if it could possibly work out? I'm just not sure whether to wait or go ahead and rehome them before any problems arise. Thanks everyone!

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes do get the cockerels out of there. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of kids. There are many aspects to this hobby and you have years to work into it, take your time and get some experience.

 

[birdlover2]

So I got six Buff Orpington pullets this spring and it looks like two of them are actually cockerels. One of them I am about 99% sure and the other about 75% sure. This will leave me with only four hens. I am wondering if I should wait and see how everything plays out or if I should try to find a home for one or both of them. I don't have any experience with rooster and I have young children that I want to be able to enjoy the experience of raising chickens. I am open to keeping them (or at least one) if it could possibly work out? I'm just not sure whether to wait or go ahead and rehome them before any problems arise. Thanks everyone!

See how it works. Roos that grow up together generally get along. They may fight eachother a little at first for dominance, (my mother's roos did when they first came of age) but they've got along well since, and she had 4 roos and 2 hens before we got more hens for them and they got along fine then, (and no fights even since they got the hens, though they chased them around trying to mate for the first couple weeks of integration, but now all of them get along just fine!) She has only three roos now, since one of them escaped and got eaten but they still get along fine. Two are dominant and kind-of have some sort of Preident Vice president agreement, and one is just submissive. Of course, all chickens are individuals, and u need to observe how your roos get along. One rooster can definately be beneficial to protecting the flock, (and u need one if u plan to have your hens raise their own chicks). If they're handled from a young age and are a good breed they probably won't be aggresive towards humans, but if one is give that one away and keep the good one, (another thing that can happen with two roos, one is aggressive and the other isn't) Also, even the best roos can get angry if your kids are threatening their hens, so keep that in mind.

 

[EmilyRobb]

@Lkase I'd say to keep them for now. I've found that when a bunch of birds are raised together from a young age, they get along with each other and those who tend to them. My rooster who I incubated and hatched was handled daily is now a lovely guy. He doesn't mind being handled, is a gentleman with the hens (and even got us some chicks this year), and is good with anyone who enters his area. He'll only get a little rowdy if he knows you have treats.

If you're set on getting rid of the guys, at least keep them for a bit and see how they behave and develop with the pullets and any caregivers. If behavior becomes aggressive, pullets get injured, or blood is drawn from anyone or anything, I'd say to give one if not both the boot. Usually negative behaviors shown at a young age continue throughout adulthood. Do remember that young cockerels, or even pullets, may engage in "fighting", but they're usually sorting out a pecking order.

 

[Neggative]

get rid of just one! roos are great at protecting your flock! my hens love my rooster! hes always finding little tidbits and giving it to them!

 

[Compost King]

Keep them until you have a problem. If money is an issue that having 2 cockerels is already an issue because they are eating feed. I would get rid of one (or both) if money is an issue with you. I liked keeping cockerels around just to observe and learn how chickens interact. Now I know about as much as I can absorb so I get rid of cockerels early. Sometimes I eat them, sometimes I give them away if they are a breed in demand. I will actually eat them so young there is nothing you can do with them except make broth to cook my pinto beans in.

 

[keesmom]

I'm with Mrs. K, rehome both of them. Let the kids enjoy the hens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Two roosters, even if they get along, and only 4 hens is a recipe for naked-backed, stressed-out hens.

Better to rehome and give the girls some peace.

 

[Mrs. K]

On this website, there are a lot of conflicting advice. People tend to give advice from their perspective, with their own coop/run and flock in the back of their mind as they write.

Do know that roosters do take experience, and really you can only get experience by keeping chickens. Roosters are a crap shoot. People who had chickens for years, tend to have bigger set ups, multi-generational flocks and years of experience. And they tend not to have trouble with roosters.

I could fit that scope too, but when I was first getting started, I thought what the heck, I can handle a rooster. I had a lot of theories about chicken raising, a lot of mistakes. Thing is, a rooster will attack small children first. There usually are signs, but inexperienced people often do not recognize them, so the attack seems to come out of nowhere. An attack in the face of a beloved child is really not worth a rooster.

Cull the roosters anyway you can. Give them away, or just dispatch them, bury them and plant a rosebush. With you just getting started, I would not even recommend raising them up to eat. A hen only flock is a very good way to start this hobby.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Keep them for now, but be ready to separate them at moments notice.
When things go bad, it happens fast and can be ugly.