Tell me why you keep Roosters...

[ozu]

1:8 ratio is what I was told but most do say 1:10

Oh okay I'll have 1:9. Figured it was close enough because Willow is a good boy.

 

[lovechickenswis]

I have never had a problem with mine or anyone's roosters attacking me. Although my friends turkey likes to go after my daughter. I told her that if he starts coming after her to chase him and try to catch him. He is not so quick to chase her anymore. I do have a rooster that will only go after my husband, but I think it is because my husband plays with him and it is just their game. He can reach down and pick him up without a fuss. I was told that tom turkeys will go after you if you wear red I do not know if this is true for roosters. I do not know if this is helpful but my motto is, they can't chase you if you chase them first.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I have never had a problem with mine or anyone's roosters attacking me.   Although my friends turkey likes to go after my daughter.  I told her that if he starts coming after her to chase him and try to catch him.  He is not so quick to chase her anymore.  I do have a rooster that will only go after my husband, but I think it is because my husband plays with him and it is just their game.  He can reach down and pick him up without a fuss.  I was told that tom turkeys will go after you if you wear red I do not know if this is true for roosters.  I  do not know if this is helpful but my motto is, they can't chase you if you chase them first. 

Works for me! I think that you may be on to something , with the red thing. My silkie roo is always intimidated by my red " sloggies ".

 

[goodb]

6 weeks is too young to introduce into a flock, especially one with a rooster. Any birds you plan on introducing, I would put in a separate pen, so the existing flock can see them but not touch. It's good to introduce like sizes. Once your 6 week olds are relatively the size of your existing flock, it is a good time to join them. Because they had time to see each other before hand, it makes establishing the pecking order go a lot smoother.

I completely agree with this. I had my younger chicks mix with the older for 2-3 weeks before I let them out and mingle. I left the younger ones in the cage and the older were able to see and check them out. Then I let the little ones out in the fenced yard to mingle with the older birds for a couple hours at a time. Then it was all day for a few days and then came the first night in the coop. I had to put nearly all of the little ones in myself each evening and then all of them learned to go in...took 6 days and on the 7th I rested.

 

[ChickieG'ma]

Has anyone every introduced new chicks (6 wk old or so) into an existing flock with a rooster? I'm not sure how my roo with handle it, he is fine with me but does protect his girls.

Yes I have. We kept them in a pen where the whole flock could see them for a couple of weeks then started letting them out. Bill ( 2 yr old GLW ) kind of looked at me like "what? I don't have enough to do?" But he just left it to the girls to sort out the pecking order. Now when it comes to his own kids he's a little more hands on. When treats are being handed out and the broody moms are tidbiting their chicks Bill will stay close and cluck to the chics also and actually feed them. He also keeps other chicks away, even chasing them. He's a good daddy.

 

[newbie32]

Works for me! I think that you may be on to something , with the red thing. My silkie roo is always intimidated by my red " sloggies ".

I think so too. Mine peck at my nail polish. Its funny someone mentioned it once on here and I said "oh I am glad mine don't do that!" 2 days later they started doing it

. They even do it with bright pink colors. Plus I think they like tomatoes for the same reason

 

[lovechickenswis]

Yes, nail polish, the fascination never ends. The kids have a hard time walking through the coop with the young ones when they wear flip flops, it is like they have new fluffy slippers.

 

[dgermanshepherd]

Anyone know the breed of the Roo in my avatar? He showed up here when I was on vacation and never left. He is a super friendly bird and great with the hens.

 

[gimmie birdies]

looks like a salmon faverolle chicken. nice.

 

[CountryGeorge]

I started out wanting no roosters at all and ordered a dozen assorted pullets from my local feed store. A few months later first one then another of the 'pullets' started to crow. One of them became a problem and I gave him to a friend with a farm where he has a harem of 8 hens and I kept one of them. He is a great guy and good with the girls and my special buddy and will perch on my knee to eat from my hand and growl at any of the hens that try to invade his spot. We got five silkies and a banty this year, straight run, and the banty turned out to be a girl while every single one of the silkies is a boy. Four out of the five silky roosters are fine but one is more than a bit of a bully and right now is in the time out coop where he will stay for a while. I'll give him another chance and then he will go to a new home. Roosters for all their noise are interesting critters all told and I'm kinda glad I have them in my life.