To rooster or not to rooster?

[YelleBean]

Ya’ll were so helpful with our little ornery chick situation and by the way, she is best buddies with all the ladies now and everything is harmonious!
We’re trying to decide if a rooster is the right choice for us. We are adding new hatches tomorrow to our flock of 8 ladies. I had a scare a couple days ago with a hawk and thankfully they were in their coop, but it got me thinking. Do roosters make that much of a difference and is it worth it? I have heard they can be hard to deal with sometimes and you may have to get rid of a few before you get a nice one?
We have a mix of chickens from mille bantams to Wyandottes and my husband really wants a Brahma roo, but I worry they might hurt the ladies. The lady I get my chicks from has German Birlefelder Roos right now and she said she doesn’t have them often. Any one have experience with these? I’m so torn! Will the larger roosters end up hurting my smaller girls?

we also don’t really want fertilized eggs right now either so that’s something to think about! Help!

 

[hennanny]

the rooster in my avatar was killed by a hawk protecting his ladies and then the hawk came back after the ladies so the short answer is ..Roosters are really not that good as a protector unless he is a bad mofo. That being said since our "Fancy" died our ladies seem to be less stressed by getting chased around by the Rooster and are laying better and getting along better. We had thought real serious about getting another rooster but other than missing the crowing and watching some of the Rooster to Hen interaction while in the yard, ie him showing them where some food is, breaking up squabbles etc we are not seeing much bottom line benefit.

 

[LaFleche]

We have a mix of chickens from mille bantams to Wyandottes and my husband really wants a Brahma roo, but I worry they might hurt the ladies. The lady I get my chicks from has German Birlefelder Roos right now and she said she doesn’t have them often. Any one have experience with these? I’m so torn! Will the larger roosters end up hurting my smaller girls?

You said you do not want fertilized eggs, so the only benefit you could expect from adding a rooster would be him being an "early warning system" in case of predator attacks.

So, if you decide to add a rooster to your flock, I think a bantam would be best. A Brahma can severely hurt your smaller hens and even kill them accidentally when trying to mate. The same goes for a standard size Bielefelder rooster, as they are quite large and heavy.

 

[YelleBean]

the rooster in my avatar was killed by a hawk protecting his ladies and then the hawk came back after the ladies so the short answer is ..Roosters are really not that good as a protector unless he is a bad mofo. That being said since our "Fancy" died our ladies seem to be less stressed by getting chased around by the Rooster and are laying better and getting along better. We had thought real serious about getting another rooster but other than missing the crowing and watching some of the Rooster to Hen interaction while in the yard, ie him showing them where some food is, breaking up squabbles etc we are not seeing much bottom line benefit.

Thank you so much for that info! I hate the thought of losing a hen or a roo to a hawk, but I know this is life. It’s a least some good food for thought for sure. I think my husband loves the idea of a giant rooster, but I just don’t want there to be zero point really!

 

[YelleBean]

You said you do not want fertilized eggs, so the only benefit you could expect from adding a rooster would be him being an "early warning system" in case of predator attacks.

So, if you decide to add a rooster to your flock, I think a bantam would be best. A Brahma can severely hurt your smaller hens and even kill them accidentally when trying to mate. The same goes for a standard size Bielefelder rooster, as they are quite large and heavy.

Thanks for the info. That was my concern. I am getting a straight run calico Cochin bantam tomorrow so we could end up with a roo anyway.