Thinking of having a rooster, can you give pros and cons?

[NC29mom]

I just love my roosters!

They take their job very seriously!
They don't allow squabbles among the hens!

Mine sits and waits for his girls to lay their eggs (each & every one)
He will alert the girls to danger!
He will ALWAYS let the hens have ALL the treats
He ALWAYS lets the girls go first
He knows when it's time to go to bed
He calls the girls back to the barn (when time to go to bed)
He won't let the girls stray (mine free range)
He's something mighty handsome to look at!
He will see a hawk before you (most of the time)!


How many more reasons do you need???

GO AND GET YOU A ROOSTER!!!

YOU WON'T REGRET IT, I PROMISE!!!!!!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I looked over all replies earlier but now have time to post... so please forgive me if I am repeating something said earlier... I will never be without a Roo... a flock without one seems, to me, incomplete... it's like a wild herd without a stallion, only with feathers and 2 legs. For me , he is worth his weight many times over in corn, mash and boss. That said, not all roos are created equal... he must be a good roo and if you question whether your roo is a good one, than he probably isn't... you shouldn't have to carry a snow shovel, rake or broom just to go outside... your girls shouldn't have naked heads or backs... the only bird in the flock who should be afraid to go in the pen at night should be the young, maturing roos and that's how it should be... he is the boss and will be until someone else outshines him. I've had my top roo do "all of the above" (good stuff) including giving up his life to save his hens and chicks... most recently losing my Top Roo, Miracle, while still having all my hens, 1/2 growns and 2 tiny chicks... he was a wonderful Rooster... his son/maybe grandson is trying to take his place but has yet to prove himself to me and the hens... and there several younger 1/2 grown sons who might just outshine this new head roo... that remains to be seen. Whoever gets to stay HAS to be a "good roo". As someone else said, their are too many roos out there to keep a bad one... only the BEST!

 

[Shellyb]

Wow, thank you all for your opinions on this matter! Very educational. I am actually going to be starting my flock all over and was considering keeping a roo since I have to buy the silkies straight run and possibly breed them.

But the issue I have had right now with my current flock (that is awaiting their new home) is the feather plucking. I am really curious if that would have happened if I only had a roo with them? Any thoughts to that? Thanks everyone again!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
OOps sorry your original question wasn't answered with allllll these answers.

And I won't be able to answer for you because I have never been without a rooster

... as a matter of fact my first 2 babies, bought at a flea market, WERE ROOSTERS! Imagine that selling just roos at a flea market. (I was new to chickens and was pretty stupid!

But that is what started it ALL! NO regrets!

)

All that to say *bump*... let's get you back up to get some thoughts on this from people who just might KNOW!

ps: Just thinking though... sounds like boredom to me... do you free range at all?... what do they have to do all day?... maybe free range isn't an option for you but what could you do to give them some chicken fun? ... just thoughts.

ETA... maybe you could edit your subject to address this specifically? or start a new post to address this part of your question?

 

[cheri222]

I just picked up my black silkie rooster this weekend and he is 4 months old. So far, no crowing. Just an odd growling noise. (in quarantine). I had never seen a silkie in person before. He cuddles and loves to be held and looks for affection. Completely different than the girls. Also the dogs tend to bug the chickens, nosing them around. The girls tend to take off in the other direction. When I let the dogs in where the rooster is he just stares them down and then goes about his business. Not one bit bothered. I can't wait to integrate him in with the girls. They wandered over to where they can see him and were all lined up watching. I don't know if we will hatch chicks or not, it is always an option.

 

[Royd]

My rooster is the ultimate argument for legal poligamy. On top of that, he knows that I am the ultimate roo, and wherever I go, food is going to fall or ground is going to be disturbed, and he can, then, walk in and look like the big hero, to his hens.

A half hour before sunset, he is gathering the hens at the coop door.

I have seen him catch a grasshopper and hold it for about a minute, waiting for a hen to come and get it...It's in their DNA to know that hens need the protein more than they do.

Any movement, overhead, whether vulture or squirrel, will get a cocked eye, to check it out.

 

[cheri222]

Well Oliver the black silkie roo has been crowing for 2 weeks now. I talked to the last of the neighbors today and it seems everyone loves him! They understand that he may get louder but don't seem to care. Starts crowing at around 730 am and won't stop till I let him out. Then he crows for another 20 min. He is 4+ months and loves the girls, all lf 3 month olds. He has made a couple of half hearted attempts to jump on them but either misses or falls off. He cuddles low on the roost with the 2 cochins at night. His personality has added so much to the group, even my dad (who HATES chickens) loves Oliver!

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Our Silkie roo is a dreamboat. The girls love him, he does all the things a good roo should do and he is never aggressive to anyone except 1. squirrels. 2. wayward cats 3. hawks, jays, crows. He doesn't bother the girls too much or pick feathers. He also protects the lowliest pullet from the others and will not allow squabbling. I have had 2 other roos before. One was awful and went into the oven. The other was just there, no big deal. The silkie is a real character. I say YES!

 

[Mrsfoote]

I think if you have a well behaved roo then you wont have extra feather problems I have one roo right now at 24 weeks and he is a brahma so he is taking forever to get to the really rooish point but he is VERY well behaved and treats his girls excellent. We rehomed 3 bantam sized roos who were starting to mount the hens and they were VERY polite for teenagers. Never pulled feathers or anything. I think roo's are great and if I could keep one in town I would but mine all have to find new homes SO when my husband I purchase our first home soon it WILL be on property because I can't imagine owning hens WITHOUT roo's

I think when hens loose feathers to roo's part of it is contributed to the hen herself if he is a new roo he will have to figure things out but if the hen isn't very helpful either the loss of feathers may happen. Just my opinion from what I've noticed

 

[Dixiedoodle]

CONS: I got rid of my roo because he was nasty to hens and people! Flogged my 2 yr grandson who adored him, but never chased or abused him or tired to feed him from his hand...He became that way when he was about 10 months--he was NOT born that way --just getting 'roostery".. He chased the hens and they would scream(every two mintues someone was sqwaking and flying away like their lives were in danger --usually hid deep into the woods or anywhere HE wasn't. They were bald, had broken missing back and wing feathers and they were even afraid of me!

Pros: he was beautiful, great eye candy and I loved his crow... Fertile eggs....after he was gone I had a broody hen and didn't know anyone w/ fertile eggs (but I do now)..She keep sitting and refused to give it up...