The truth about roosters

[mkwags]

I have a mille Fleur bantam rooster, he is around 7 mo. old I think, and is starting to show dominant behavior, doing a sideways shuffle up to another hen, or me, mounting the other hens, and fluffing his wings in a big swoosh noise.
My question for anyone that knows about roosers. Do they ever relax? A friend of mine says no, that's how they are and unless I want fertilized eggs I should get rid of him. I have a second rooster, same breed, he is more passive. If I get rid of the dominant one, will number 2 step up and start being obnoxious?
I only have them because I think they are fun to watch, except for now that they are being obnoxious.

 

[HEChicken]

There's no guarantee how the second roo will behave if the first is not around but yes, he probably WILL become more dominant once he realizes he no longer has competition. I had four roos and only one was crowing. I processed three (one of which was the crower) and only two days later the remaining roo started crowing.

 

[gritsar]

I agree. Get rid of one and the second roo will likely man up.
Roosters are a blast and I won't have a flock without one...or two...or three.
Don't tolerate the wingdancing/sidestepping from the roo. It's okay for him to do it to a hen, but not to you. He'd be taking a short flight off the end of my boot for that one.
Not all roos are bad and even the ones that are getting a bit uppity can sometimes be taught to behave. Read my BYC page.

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:
I like how you have it in steps. I'm going to try that with my roos after they get adjusted.

 

[Tala]

If the sidestepping thing is the worst he does, then keep him and work on him with it!

My good rooster's only bad habit is to do the sidestepping shuffle thing to me. That I can put up with! I give him an adjustment as needed - usually I yank his feathers and chase him around the yard until he's had enough, and he lays off for several days up to about a week before attempting again.
I can pick him up, and mess with the ladies, and visit them on the roost, and walk across the yard to them, without him freaking out, biting or flogging me so yes I will put up with a little sidestep "challenge" now and then. Roosters will always test you if they think they can get the "leg up" - they do it to each other all the time!

His brother the "bad" roo would walk up to me in the yard, and bite me for no reason! That kind of meanness can't be "worked out" in my opinion. He was tasty though!

 

[mkwags]

How do you "work on it" with the rooster? When he does his side stepping thing just gently kick him? And what about him bugging the hens, I don't need or want fertilized eggs, and I don't want the hens to be harrassed by him.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Read my BYC and yes, just a short flight off the tip of your boot. You don't have to be mean about it, just to get your point across. Don't kick him, just sorta scoop him up and out.
As far as the hens go, you won't have much say about that; unless you house him seperate; a lonely life for a roo IMO.
A roo's gonna mate a hen if there's a hen to be had. I eat fertilized eggs every single day, as do my egg customers. Absolutely nothing wrong with them.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

You'll either need to invite him to dinner or build a Bachelor pad for him... if you don't want fertile eggs and you don't want him bugging the girls..

When my roo, 'bumped' me, I chased him down, and held him to the ground like he does the hens, then I picked him up (by his legs) and carried him around the yard upside down for several minutes..it's been weeks and he runs if I get close...Just the way I like it...

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Just let him know that you are the boss rooster in the flock. That's all.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=281201

http://shilala.homestead.com/roosters.html

The benefits of a rooster outweigh the cons, in my opinion. THE VERY NIGHT that I butchered the biting rooster, a raccoon managed to get into my chicken tractor via a broken door latch (my fault for not fixing it promptly) and I credit my current rooster for helping save his ladies!!!! I can't hear the hens squalking when I'm in the house, but I know Mr Roo's "alarm" calls and they are loud, so I always go check on them if he's out there making a fuss! I count on him to be there for his ladies!!!! He has jumped on my 60lb dog's back, so I know he has the guts...whether or not he can protect his ladies from everything at least I know he will try.

He is sweet, he finds them treats and treasures and calls them over to come get some before he eats it. He is a peacekeeper among the other chickens as well.
I have a young cockerel who has been the peacemaker since they were in the brooder - he will break up fights between the others. I'm gonna keep him (don't tell DH!)

Roosters are a hoot to have around, and a mature hen with a gentle roo isn't going to be very "bothered" -- although there is a learning curve on both sides. Sometimes young roosters can be a bit rough, and sometimes they want to get frisky before the hens think they are "ready" . . . but once they start laying it seems like they don't really mind the rooster's romance. You can always get a chicken saddle if one particular hen is the "favorite" but I haven't had any trouble with my 4 hen:1 roo ratio.

If you really don't want fertilized eggs or him "bugging" the hens then don't keep a rooster. IMO a good rooster is worth keeping.

 

[cobrien]

why did I read this? I already knew I wanted a rooster and can't have one in the city. when someone finally finds a way to breed roosters that don't crow I will be first in line (hey, they have dogs that don't bark, why not?).