To have or not to have... a rooster?

[FingerLakesChick]

I made my first ever chick order for 9 hens and 1 rooster and they'll be ready to pick up at the local feed store on May 21.

What are the pros and cons of having a rooster?

Pros to me are:
Beauty and statliness
Hen protection

Cons to me are:
Crowing at 4:00 a.m. or whenever!
Bothering my girls all the time
Bad attitude

I'm not interested in fertile eggs.

So what do you all think... should I go for it?

Thanks!!

 

[Hotwings]

Quote:
I think you are on the right direction in owing a roo. Your rate of hens to your rooster is alright. Protector of the flock is very important. If you fully understand that at first he may seem calm if he is a young cockerel things can change as he gets older and hard as it might be this is what a rooster is all about. They can see everything and anything as a threat against his hens. As for fertile eggs you can collect the eggs often to prevent chicks. What kind of breeds are you getting? Some breeds are alittle docile than others. Good luck with your new birds.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

We will raise hens only for eggs and meat, and fertile eggs are of no importants to us.

 

[pipermark]

Additional Condsiderations:
1. Noise to nieghbors: most confrontations between chicken owner and nieghbors over noise is about the rooster.



The only reason to have a rooster is if you like the crowing. The type of rooster that is fun to be around usually isnt the best flock protector. The ones that are a good flock protector still cant usually fend of , dogs, and natural predators. So really the best flock protector will be you.

The only other reason is one that you have stated you have no interest in.

IMHO that leaves, do you like to hear them crow and watch them strut?
Do you have neighbors to be concerned with?

Good luck with you new birds

 

[FingerLakesChick]

As we live in western (upstate) NY, I thought I should get hardy breeds. So I have 2 RIR hens, 1 RIR Roo, 3 Light Brahma hens, 2 Buff Orpington hens and 2 Black Jersey Giant hens coming.

I have never been so excited AND terrified in my entire life!! Man do I feel alive!!

I don't mind having fertile eggs, but I doubt I would ever try to hatch them myself, however it might be very interesting to let one of hens be a mama.

 

[FingerLakesChick]

Thank you for that, Pipermark. That's what I was looking for to help me make this decision.

 

[hencackle]

Is your RIR roo rose-combed or single-combed? Single combs are prone to frostbite, freezing the points and causing them to fall off. For people with harsh winters as in upstate NY, it is best to choose roosters with rose combs or pea combs. Some people apply vaseline to help prevent frostbite damage, but I don't have personal experience with that.
Stephanie

 

[FingerLakesChick]

I've cancelled the roo. I just don't think it's a good idea right now. I'm terrified enough as it is!!

 

[Sport]

Another thing to consider with roosters is how they react to small children. I had a rooster and it terrorized my kids. They were afraid to go in the back yard because James was there. We had him since he was a day old and he was used to them, but once he reached a certain age he would chase them around. His spurs were just nubs, but he would use them, too. Lucky for us a local garden center took him in and we visit from time to time, but the length of his spurs make me glad that we got rid of him when we did.