Thinking about keeping a cockerel... a few questions, and is it worth it to YOU?

[Lemon-Drop]

Is a rooster/cockerel worth it to you?

I have 3 silkies that are only 3 weeks but I am starting to suspect I have 1-2 cockerels at least.

I am technically allowed to have a rooster (according by to town laws) but I am unsure if it will actually be a good commitment for both me and the flock.

A few questions:

Are silkie roosters nicer than most? (I had a really bad experience with an aggressive RIR rooster who kept flogging me)

Will a silkie rooster be bullied by other breeds in a mixed breed flock? (I have a Brahma, Australorp, Orpington, Barred Rock, Barnevelder, Speckled Sussex, Sapphire Gem, Silkies, Welsummer, and a few other breeds totaling to 13 pullets/hens NOT including the 3 silkies.)

How many roosters should I have for 13-15 hens?

Would 2 roosters be too many for 14 hens?

Is it actually beneficial to keep a rooster?

Will a silkie rooster attack me or be pretty docile?

Is it ok/hard to integrate a rooster into a mixed age/breed flock? I have all different breeds (besides silkies) and 3 year old hens, 1 year old hens, and 3 month old hens.

I know a lot of these depends on the rooster itself, I’m just curious what you have experienced.

I will probably have more questions, but thanks for taking your time

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Yes. They are worth it as long as you're ranged for them and they're not too agreassive. I loved all my roos I had to give away because of pesky ranging laws an I love the sound of crowing.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I love my males. Have about 40 now, will be closer to low 20s when I've gotten rid of the ones not staying.

Some are awesome flock masters, others are useless besides making babies and looking pretty

 

[3KillerBs]

I like the sound of crowing and I want to hatch chicks so I want a rooster (thus, naturally, all my straight-run Splits appear to be pullets and I need no sign of an oops-rooster in my sexed pullets).

I voted "Yes, if they aren't too aggressive" but what I mean is "Yes, if he's not aggressive at all." I don't need "super-sweet" because he's livestock, not a pet. I will be happy with a rooster who respects me and keeps his distance rather than actively wanting attention.

Aggressive cockerels will be corrected through herbal hydrotherapy.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Yes. They are worth it as long as you're ranged for them and they're not too agreassive. I loved all my roos I had to give away because of pesky ranging laws an I love the sound of crowing.

I love my males. Have about 40 now, will be closer to low 20s when I've gotten rid of the ones not staying.

Some are awesome flock masters, others are useless besides making babies and looking pretty

I like the sound of crowing and I want to hatch chicks so I want a rooster (thus, naturally, all my straight-run Splits appear to be pullets and I need no sign of an oops-rooster in my sexed pullets).

I voted "Yes, if they aren't too aggressive" but what I mean is "Yes, if he's not aggressive at all." I don't need "super-sweet" because he's livestock, not a pet. I will be happy with a rooster who respects me and keeps his distance rather than actively wanting attention.

Aggressive cockerels will be corrected through herbal hydrotherapy.

Glad to know at least a few people have nice roosters.

I guess I just had a bad experience taking care of the neighbors rooster who was a RIR (granted, they had only 1 rooster and 2 hens so I think they were getting over-mated, so I'm not sure they knew a whole lot about chickens...)

When people say they aren't too aggressive, how aggressive does that really mean? Will he still run and attack you, or not?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

(side note, if none of the silkies are roosters, I don't know that I will necessarily seek out a rooster, but I want to know ahead of time in case one or two of the silkies are cockerels, which is likely considering they are SR)

 

[Mrs. K]

You need another option, yes, I will keep roosters, but I can dispatch him if it doesn't work out.

Roosters are not fool proof, and they can be dangerous, or just mean. They can be hard on the other birds, or they can fight with each other... in any of those circumstances, I am going to dispatch and try again.

Mrs K

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Glad to know at least a few people have nice roosters.

I guess I just had a bad experience taking care of the neighbors rooster who was a RIR (granted, they had only 1 rooster and 2 hens so I think they were getting over-mated, so I'm not sure they knew a whole lot about chickens...)

When people say they aren't too aggressive, how aggressive does that really mean? Will he still run and attack you, or not?

I had an awful experiemce with a male when i was 9, youre not alone at all.

I tolerate "mouthing" or an exploratory peck when I first start handling them. They /will not/ be tolerated grabbing or even worse, grabbing and kicking, even as chicks. I don't have hormone problems because I don't keep any with bad behavior even when they're a month and under

 

[JacinLarkwell]

(side note, if none of the silkies are roosters, I don't know that I will necessarily seek out a rooster, but I want to know ahead of time in case one or two of the silkies are cockerels, which is likely considering they are SR)

Don't be too sure, I have 2 breeds I got straight run and the only male I see so far is a cull with the wrong comb

 

[cherrynberry]

I have an EE rooster. He is really nice to me and my sister, but he is evil to my dad and brother, even if they have rakes. I am fine with that because my sister and I are the ones that take care of them anyways. I recently put 5 eggs into the incubator. We have one rooster to 13 hens and all the eggs are fertile. So...I love having a rooster. He does protect the hens, and because we have hawks here, its good to have him around.