The rooster must go!

[bobbi-j]

I'm glad to hear that your DW can now feel safe going out in the yard. I feel bad for the rooster, that you didn't just get rid of him quickly and humanely in the first place so your friend's sons wouldn't have had to do your job in what sounds like not such a quick, humane manner, but at least he's gone. Hopefully your new rooster will be nicer and your wife won't have to deal with another mean one again. Or, maybe, if he gets aggressive, he'll start attacking you and it will be your DW on here wondering what she can do to help her hubby feel safe in the yard...

 

[andalusn]

I have hatched many chicks and the hens have helped. I have taken 5 roosters to my local feed store to resell as I just needed to reduce the number of roosters chasing the hens and causing stress. The store always tells me how the roosters I bring as so nice and easy to handle. They are usually about 6 mos old when I take them there. I don't handle anyone they just grow up with the flock. I still have one or two BLRW roosters from the hatch mixing in and they are no trouble at all. The Along with them is the main rooster our Jersey Giant, as well as a Brabanter, Salmon Favorelle & Lemon Blue Cochin. I will start penning up some groups for breeding but all are calm, quiet and I just mingle amongst them out in the barn to feed, clean and discuss life with them. Now if one turned mean .... gone. No doubt about it. There are too many nice roosters to put up with one just asking to join you for dinner.

 

[chi-rn]

I got Golden Comets (I have 9 currently) specifically so I would NOT have a rooster. I don't want to constantly be watching my back & I don't want my girls' backs torn up! But, last week I put a rooster in with my hens... I let myself be talked into accepting a roo that lived in a town about 3 hours away... He had to go once he started crowing due the ordinances of the town in which he lived. His owner reached me via this forum (see my BYC if you're interested in his pic). He's about 18 weeks old now ...no spurs yet. Already, though, he's acting pretty aggressively with my adult & juvenile hens. In the early morning (I always let them out at 5AM) he's like a tasmanian devil... won't let the girls eat & sends 'em squawking & huddling into a corner. I have to grab him & pen him up separate just so they get a chance to eat in peace. Then, he's settles down pretty well & I let him out. He's pretty calm throughout the day, but he gets really aggressive again just before bedtime. Tonight, he's back to sleeping in a separate coop. I hope he settles down. I found this article: http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html. I'm going to give this a go with him.... otherwise, he'll just be stuck living in a 3X10 tractor inside my larger pen for his life!

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

I got Golden Comets (I have 9 currently) specifically so I would NOT have a rooster. I don't want to constantly be watching my back & I don't want my girls' backs torn up! But, last week I put a rooster in with my hens... I let myself be talked into accepting a roo that lived in a town about 3 hours away... He had to go once he started crowing due the ordinances of the town in which he lived. His owner reached me via this forum (see my BYC if you're interested in his pic). He's about 18 weeks old now ...no spurs yet. Already, though, he's acting pretty aggressively with my adult & juvenile hens. In the early morning (I always let them out at 5AM) he's like a tasmanian devil... won't let the girls eat & sends 'em squawking & huddling into a corner. I have to grab him & pen him up separate just so they get a chance to eat in peace. Then, he's settles down pretty well & I let him out. He's pretty calm throughout the day, but he gets really aggressive again just before bedtime. Tonight, he's back to sleeping in a separate coop. I hope he settles down. I found this article: http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html. I'm going to give this a go with him.... otherwise, he'll just be stuck living in a 3X10 tractor inside my larger pen for his life!

Sorry if this sounds rude (and it's not 100% directed at you) but didn't you know how roosters behaved before you got one? Most young roos chase in the morning and chase in the evening and hens will resist them until they establish dominance in the flock. All roos crow! All of them. Just like all hens cluck.

Did you quarantine the roo for 30 days before adding to your flock? If not you are risking a disease that may require you to cull all of your birds.

To every person out there considering a roo here are some facts.

1) Roos mate with hens. It's not pretty and it takes a while before everyone calms down. Some never calm down and end up needing to be culled from the flock.
2) All roos can be aggressive and territorial. That's their nature. Period. Some can be nice. Some can be tamed down. But nature is nature. If you want a roo to protect your flock then understand that he may protect against anyone including you and your kids.
3) All roos crow. (Both my roos are crowing now).
4) Roos and small children DO NOT mix.
5) Cuddling a roo as a baby seems to almost guarantee that you will raise a roo that will turn on you eventually. There are some exceptions.
6) If you get a roo and it doesn't work out either cull it (stockpot) or raise via a bachelor pen. Do not try to dump your aggressive animal on someone else. It's your problem to deal with.


I'm sure others with some experience can add onto my list. In fact I think it would make sense to create a 'ROO" sticky. To help folks do their research before they bring a roo home. Or before hatching or before buying straight run chicks.

Seriously just trying to help folks. It's distressing to continually read posts about someone getting injured and the poster was surprised that a roo could do that kind of damage.​

 

[chi-rn]

Sent private email... not new to roosters. We can help one another without playing a blame-game here,

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

I apologize if you were offended. I was trying to present some facts for people who have no idea how a roo behaves. I can start another thread for that info if needed. Not everyone here takes the time you did to research a solution for issues with their flock.

 

[whistlinchicken]

I had 75 white rock roosters, raised on our farm, free range...for many months. We "dispatched" 70 of them and kept the best looking 5. Sold a few and currently have 2 awesome, mature roosters that are really friendly.

I believe it's the breed that makes the bird. These guys are very roostery...protective of hens, have large spurs, etc. but really just hang out and leave the people alone.

I also have an Orpington with an even more laid back personality.

In the past, we had rhode island reds...very aggressive...and some "unknown" breeds...again, aggressive. Pick a mellow breed and get a good one from a breeder to assure correct type and personality. You will be happy that you did!

 

[NovaAman]

I have a Faverolle roo, and he's just awesome. He's 1.5, so I know that could change. I have his wings clipped, and he's such a short legged thing that I don't worry to much that he will be able to get good lift and nail me in the back. I have a a few silkie roos... They are juvies yet, and haven't had any probs with them (i think they are roos). Well anyway, My neighbor has had some meanies of a rooster. They have one now that I would take out. If he gets out of the coop/run, he's just an evil bird. Last week he got out, as soon as Carl opened the door, he was flew at him. The roos name is Bad Bob. He was Andrew's show roo. He's won awards with this roo, so is why they keep him for breeding the BR. I'd kill him. Put him in a crock pot... Make stew.... feed him back to the hens so they can say in their little chicken minds, HAHAHA TAKE THAT YOU ROTTEN SUCKER! I don't think he's the nicest for the girls either. MY ROO however, he's very sweet even to his only girl now... Soon he'll have a few more, but they aren't ready yet. BUT, he doesn't take out there back feathers, stand guard with her while she is laying and will even bring her/call her good morsels... chicken love... BUT IF HE EVER GETS MEAN! I will knock his but out, and cook him. But I love that guy. He is just the prettiest thing.

 

[chi-rn]

Quote:
I think your idea of a sticky thread regarding rooster behavior/management is awesome! It would be a great place for everyone dealing with their unique quirks. Only moderators (I think) can make stickies.... By the way, thank you for understanding my bullheadedness.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I vote yes on the rooster category, seems like there are so many stories, both good and bad, I was starting to get worried, I think I can handle a 6 lb rooster with or without spurs...but I'd like to have a site alittle more focused on this bad roo good roo thing, I think the ones I have are pretty young and still see me as the leader, I mean, what other than hormones would make them think I'm a predator, other than the food store for them. Alot of stories seem to say attacks happen when they turn their backs, hmmmm...I don't see the point of having one that would turn on me, any more than I'd keep a dog that snarls at me., esp after they get spurs, sounds like tetanus shot and maybe stitches, there goes the feed budget,
and ut oh, both I and the grandkids played extensively with these chickens, do you think they'll all turn on me, or just the roos? esp since i am stealing the hens eggs now- just kidding