if it was me that you were talking to the one in my avatar is a bantam bbred cubalaya. but i also have white yokohama large fowl, white cubalaya large fowl, spangled bantam cubalaya, banatm bbred bbred cubalaya, bantam blue red cubalaya, bantam duckwing cubalaya, and working on recreating bantam black cubalaya, i also have some other breeds and varieties.
Tell me why you keep Roosters...
- Thread starter cestial225
- Start date
if it was me that you were talking to the one in my avatar is a bantam bbred cubalaya. but i also have white yokohama large fowl, white cubalaya large fowl, spangled bantam cubalaya, banatm bbred bbred cubalaya, bantam blue red cubalaya, bantam duckwing cubalaya, and working on recreating bantam black cubalaya, i also have some other breeds and varieties.
I live in a non-HOA community, thank the Good Lord, and have no ristrictions from my city. I intentionally got two cockerels, a Black Copper Marans at two days old and a new Hampshire at a month old. Both were raised by older hens, so are very respectful and wonderful. My baby has been around all of our chickens and turkeys since she was about six months old and we've only had one problem. At about a year old, she was feeding them grapes and one of the cockerels got her finger trying to get the grape. Otherwise, we have had absolutely no signs of aggression.
I wanted each rooster for breeding, primarily, but the other reasons mentioned also played heavily in to it. Protection, flock harmony, and beauty. My flock is significantly calmer and I haven't seen or heard of any predators in my yard. I have 11 hens and 3 cockerels, plus three more babies about two months old.
I have put chicks out with the flock as early as a week old without problems. As long as the temperatures are ok, I will put them out almost as soon as getting them. My flock is constantly adding or subtracting members, so maybe that plays heavily in to their acceptance.
I don't have any really good pictures of my cockerels, but here are two of my BCM, Ninja. As a chick, he was one really quick, sneaky little guy and would be inside the house before you could blink. I use more of a hands-off approach than many others, so they associate me with food and not handling like the pet owners do. I'm completely ok with this, since it also makes them less likely to be stolen! He was about six months old when these were taken.
I wanted each rooster for breeding, primarily, but the other reasons mentioned also played heavily in to it. Protection, flock harmony, and beauty. My flock is significantly calmer and I haven't seen or heard of any predators in my yard. I have 11 hens and 3 cockerels, plus three more babies about two months old.
I have put chicks out with the flock as early as a week old without problems. As long as the temperatures are ok, I will put them out almost as soon as getting them. My flock is constantly adding or subtracting members, so maybe that plays heavily in to their acceptance.
I don't have any really good pictures of my cockerels, but here are two of my BCM, Ninja. As a chick, he was one really quick, sneaky little guy and would be inside the house before you could blink. I use more of a hands-off approach than many others, so they associate me with food and not handling like the pet owners do. I'm completely ok with this, since it also makes them less likely to be stolen! He was about six months old when these were taken.
Last edited:
I like to have at least one rooster in my flock because I like to hear them crow, also in my opinion the eggs taste better with a little rooster in them.
Roos, if raised right, have a kind nature. I am the lead cockerel and they realize this. Now, they are generally calm and sweet. They protect the girls and are just absolutely gorgeous. I enjoy watching them tell the hens where the treats are.
The meanest roosters I've ever had were the ones I didn't raise myself. Back before I took over the flock, I was given 3 roosters by a friend who had to get rid of them fast. One was a flighty Ameraucana, one was an aggressive Black Australorp, the last was a very sweet, docile Ameraucana. The friend was a vegan and a total animal-lover, but to be honest, I'm pretty sure she had no idea what the hell she was doing. She wanted to have chickens for eggs and she ended up with 10 roosters (no hens). Half of them were evil and showed no respect towards her. When she asked me to help her get them from their coop, I had to swoop in and save her and her Mom from being pecked because they were treating them like scared dogs. I swear, I have never wanted to laugh at someone so much. They took ten minutes to grab one. I grabbed one by the feet and placed him in a cage in 20 seconds. Geez.
The Black Australorp, originally known as Baby, was Satan's spawn. He'd attack you no matter where you went and Dad used to have to hit him away with a broom to get him to back off. It was only a temporary fix. The flighty Ameraucana, Giorg, would attack when you got too close to him. He made a deep scratch on Mom's leg once when she went outside and surprised him. The docile Ameraucana, Chiquito, was one of the best roosters we ever had. He'd jump on your back and nuzzle your hair, and he'd never scratch or peck at us. He was a real sweetie.
At the time, we were still pretty new to the poultry game and we weren't really sure what to do. I guess it was lucky that Baby ended up dying. And then Chiquito got really manly and beat up Giorg, so we had to give Giorg away. We kept Chiquito for about a year more before he died. A puppy we were given killed his hens and Chiquito, without his ladies, let the dog get him. He was the only rooster that would fight the dog back and make him back down from his hens. I'm pretty sure he was distraught and he didn't fight back anymore. Needless to say, we rehomed the dog before we got more chickens.
Now, though, we've had loads of roosters since then. All our straight run and hatched roosters have learned how to behave around us. I don't mind if they aren't affectionate or easily handled, so long as they respect that I am the alpha of the flock. We haven't had a cock fight go on in our yard for over a year. It's been great. And not a single attack by a rooster.
We like having multiple roosters and we're always very aware of when they start acting up. I make sure, though, that when people come around they do not chase my roosters or try and grab at them. My birds are living a fairly stress-free life. If someone messes with my balanced flock, they aren't allowed back until they grow up.
The Black Australorp, originally known as Baby, was Satan's spawn. He'd attack you no matter where you went and Dad used to have to hit him away with a broom to get him to back off. It was only a temporary fix. The flighty Ameraucana, Giorg, would attack when you got too close to him. He made a deep scratch on Mom's leg once when she went outside and surprised him. The docile Ameraucana, Chiquito, was one of the best roosters we ever had. He'd jump on your back and nuzzle your hair, and he'd never scratch or peck at us. He was a real sweetie.
At the time, we were still pretty new to the poultry game and we weren't really sure what to do. I guess it was lucky that Baby ended up dying. And then Chiquito got really manly and beat up Giorg, so we had to give Giorg away. We kept Chiquito for about a year more before he died. A puppy we were given killed his hens and Chiquito, without his ladies, let the dog get him. He was the only rooster that would fight the dog back and make him back down from his hens. I'm pretty sure he was distraught and he didn't fight back anymore. Needless to say, we rehomed the dog before we got more chickens.
Now, though, we've had loads of roosters since then. All our straight run and hatched roosters have learned how to behave around us. I don't mind if they aren't affectionate or easily handled, so long as they respect that I am the alpha of the flock. We haven't had a cock fight go on in our yard for over a year. It's been great. And not a single attack by a rooster.
We like having multiple roosters and we're always very aware of when they start acting up. I make sure, though, that when people come around they do not chase my roosters or try and grab at them. My birds are living a fairly stress-free life. If someone messes with my balanced flock, they aren't allowed back until they grow up.
I live in a non-HOA community, thank the Good Lord, and have no ristrictions from my city. I intentionally got two cockerels, a Black Copper Marans at two days old and a new Hampshire at a month old. Both were raised by older hens, so are very respectful and wonderful. My baby has been around all of our chickens and turkeys since she was about six months old and we've only had one problem. At about a year old, she was feeding them grapes and one of the cockerels got her finger trying to get the grape. Otherwise, we have had absolutely no signs of aggression.
I wanted each rooster for breeding, primarily, but the other reasons mentioned also played heavily in to it. Protection, flock harmony, and beauty. My flock is significantly calmer and I haven't seen or heard of any predators in my yard. I have 11 hens and 3 cockerels, plus three more babies about two months old.
I have put chicks out with the flock as early as a week old without problems. As long as the temperatures are ok, I will put them out almost as soon as getting them. My flock is constantly adding or subtracting members, so maybe that plays heavily in to their acceptance.
I don't have any really good pictures of my cockerels, but here are two of my BCM, Ninja. As a chick, he was one really quick, sneaky little guy and would be inside the house before you could blink. I use more of a hands-off approach than many others, so they associate me with food and not handling like the pet owners do. I'm completely ok with this, since it also makes them less likely to be stolen! He was about six months old when these were taken.
That is one gorgeous rooster! I have three EE roos, two Black Australorps, and several little mutt cockerels and for the most part, they only look okay. Well, except for one of the EEs. He was pecked as a chick and got scalped. Now, even though he still can't grow all his feathers on his head, he is a beautiful bird. His tail feathers are coming in really nice. I like the hands-off method as well. It makes it easier for me to be critical about which ones we will keep. I always get a little sad about raising my own birds and then having to sell/process them, but it's what you gotta do sometimes. Plus, if I keep away, the mamas don't mind keeping the chicks out in the open! The roosters are always so sweet around the chicks, showing them where to graze and letting the mamas have first pick of whatever treats I give them. It's so cute!
Get ready for this! I have 7 Roos, yes that's right 7! And 12 pullets. Why so many Roos? Well, didn't know I had that many, they are all a different breed and all are very well mannered, not to mention VERY BEAUTIFUL!! So rather than re-home( which is very hard to do in my area) or make dumplings..... I've decided to expand my coop and just get more girls. First sign of aggression from any of my Roos, I put them in their place and reminded them who really rules the roost or coop. No problems with them or amongst each other. Call me crazy but I love my boys!
I dread the day I have to get rid of some of my cutest cockerels! They are all so small right now and adorable, but I just know that I have to downsize the flock. It sucks, but I suppose that's what I get for wanting to be a responsible flock owner. At least most of the chicks we hatched this year were girls. I can't imagine what we would have done if we had more boys...other than make something delicious. That would have made me sad.
We keep several different rooster for breeding and because they are gorgeous. Any extras either get sold or get used to feed the family.
I keep them for chicks,protection for flock,and keeping the flock together.I have a old rooster he is a expert at taking care of the hens and a Little roo
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Latest threads
-
We FINALLY got our Easter egger egg!- Started by RootedTogetherHomestead
- Replies: 1
-
-
Limping dutch bantam hen 10 months old- Started by Cvanruss
- Replies: 1
-
-
Winterizing Run Question help
- Started by IowaCHKN
- Replies: 2
-
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
-
-
-
Vent gleet/prolapse/abscess? What am I missing- Started by FreshObsessed
- Replies: 47
-
-
