The best thing about my rooster is...

[speckledhen]

I'm so sorry, too, bj. I know one day my number will come up and I'll have a predator loss, just the odds since we haven't had any lost to predators in going on seven years of free ranging chickens. I credit my roosters for that, but they aren't clad in iron, so if we have an invasion that breeches the perimeter fence, we could lose one of them. I still consider that their duty and honor, to sacrifice themselves for the hens, if need be, though there would certainly be wailing and gnashing of teeth here on that day.

There is a fabulous youtube video of Isaac here submitting to hugs and kisses on my front steps from the lovely young lady in the previous photo:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/384349/sdwd/14610#post_8894682

 

[7L Farm]

I'm on my second Roo. The first one was good at protecting the flock but he would trip out if I touched any of the girls plus he started trying to attack me. I won't have that so he was sent to camp Kenmore. I got another Roo he lets me hold the girls & hasn't tried to attack me. Good guy. I never have picked him up & tried to pet him & really don't care too. If he leaves me alone & takes care of all his girlfiends me & him will get along just fine.

 

[Nickichicki]

I really should get a rooster but Ive been told then I cannot eat the eggs as they will be fertilized....is this true? I do not want to hatch chickens but Id like a rooster for protection and I think they are so darn pretty, my 31 hens need a man around to protect them out in the sticks, lol What is the deal with the eggs...can anyone explain that to me please? Thanks

 

[shadowmane]

You can eat fertilized eggs. They're really no different from regular eggs unless a hen has been sitting on them for a while.

 

[Cetawin]

I really should get a rooster but Ive been told then I cannot eat the eggs as they will be fertilized....is this true? I do not want to hatch chickens but Id like a rooster for protection and I think they are so darn pretty, my 31 hens need a man around to protect them out in the sticks, lol What is the deal with the eggs...can anyone explain that to me please? Thanks

That is absolutely false about the eggs. The only difference between an unfertilized egg and a fertilized egg is that on the yolk you will see a sort of bulleye pattern in a tiny spot. If put under the right conditions, that bullseye will become an embryo but the egg can be eaten just like any other egg unless you begin the process of incubation.

Many people believe they are eating a baby chick or something and therefore tell others you cannot eat a fertile egg...ignore that crap. If you want to eat eggs or hatch babies, the choice is yours with a rooster around. Your flock deserves a man or two around to watch out for them, alarm for them, find all the goodies and keep them in line.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

here is a pic of fred, he lost his tail to a coyote, and now spends his time at the chicks pen looking after them and offering treats. since he was so bruised up he lost his dominent status but remains busy babysitting.

 

[Daisy8s]

Poor Fred! But, considering it was a coyote I guess he was lucky that his tail is all he lost!

I thought of one more thing I like about my rooster. He kinda yodels/sings to the hens to induce them to come into the coop to roost at dusk. He seems very busy and concerned until he gets every one of them inside the coop and roosting for the night.

The more I watch my flock that is in a natural state of free-ranging with a rooster the more I observe complex social behaviors that I wouldn't have known existed. It's completely fascinating.