Trying To Keep A Rooster

[Zeil]

No there's not a legal battle or anything...

For anyone not in the know, which is probably most people... My partner and I got our flock of six chicks, we always talked about older very definitely female chickens... However we didn't seek out day old chicks, my partners workplace ran a hatching program and well...

Miracle of miracles though, I think we only have one rooster in the lot. A georgeous pure white leghorn. I've said before I don't put much stock in sexing by colour and shape and behaviour and if he turns out to be a hen or four more roosters crop up... Well such is life and we'll adjust... However in our little flock everyone else ticks just about every hen characteristic there is whilst he ironically ticks almost all the rooster boxes. They are also all 6-7 weeks old now, so that kind of development is getting more obvious...

At any rate...

My partner and I have been discussing keeping him and while I don't think it's our best idea I don't think we have anything to lose by trying. I read through a lot of threads on here and a lit of articles about keeping roosters however our situation seems slightly unique in that we aren't looking at getting a rooster, we just have one, so something must be done with him.

So yes I can see the downsides, our biggest being that we live in the residential area and as such would have to use a no crow collar, which purport themselves to be cruelty free although some people consider not allowing a rooster to crow cruel in and of itself whether it's uncomfortable or not aside. Also they sometimes don't work... However if it didn't or if a neighbour took exception to the rooster on principal we would simply be back to where we are currently anyhow, which is either rehoming or culling.

Also I've read that they can turn really aggressive, with people, with the hens... But once again if that should happen that merely puts us back to culling or rehoming him.

So I suppose that's what I'd really like opinions on, if there's some downside to keeping a rooster longer before rehoming or culling (I've read some articles that suggest hens can become depressed or aggressive themselves after having a rooster removed).

As for why we wish to keep him... There's no reason really, we don't want little chicks and aren't particularly sold on his ability to protect the flock from real danger, it's just that these chickens hatched together, they know each other, he particularly will stand at the door on each cage and wait until I've moved everyone over from the other before going to forage or what have you and if there some delay he will start calling to them, trying to work out if their still okay... it also seems greatly unfair to ship him off without a single grievance based solely on his sex and how he might possibly behave in the future.

I'm insanely curious though if there's any obvious drawbacks of not rehoming a rooster sooner rather then later that my partner and I can't see.
Also what do people think of those collars I know success is mixed, but do you think they're cruel actually or principally?

 

[Mrs. K]

I firmly believe that you get better roosters in an established flock . But if you are willing to chance it,you might get lucky, people have. The younger they are, the more tender, but many an older boy has been stewed.

If you keep him, make him keep about 5feet from you. Don't let him breed in front of you, just push him off. Don't let him crow at you, and if he fluffs up at you walk briskly towards him. Don't let him wing dance for you. This will,kind of, sort of make him respect you.

Some Roos turn out to a great addition to the flock, some turn into nightmares. Be very aware, don't make excuses for him, and good luck.

I generally recommend just Hens the first year, until you get more experience, especially if you have small children, as they are often attacked first.
Mrs k

 

[Zeil]

Hi Mrs. K,

I did read that hens whom had gone without a rooster where better at keeping him in line, although I don't think we'd ever deliberately add one.

We don't have small children, or a dog for the rooster to take offense too. Just my partner and me... more me frankly, as I tend to be the home body.

I'm also not completely unfamiliar with birds. My mother always had chickens and ducks while I was growing up and often kept a rooster in my younger days when we lived semi rurally.
One of whom did attack my sister and wound up in the soup pot. They told me at the time that it was rehomed, however my mother admitted years later that my sister accidentally injured the bird in the altercation (stepped on it probably) an my mother (from an old English farming family) being taught that waste was an awful thing, finished the bird of humanely, plucked it and cooked it, apparently she couldn't bring herself to actually eat that dinner though.

If it hadn't been injured it probably would have been rehomed. If our rooster becomes an issue like that I can't say I wouldn't do the same. I also probably wouldn't be able to actually eat it after though. After all I've read on male chickens and the treatment they sometimes receive I'm not sure I could just ship him off and let him be someone else's problem.

Is thatstrange, given that I thing I might be able to... you know... do the do...

 

[The Grove]

I personally put one of my two year old daughter's socks around my rooster's neck then put his feathers around it so you can't see it. He can still crow but it sounds muffled. He's been wearing it for two months now with no problems. He doesn't seem to mind it. I know it sounds kind of cruel, but that's the only thing keeping him alive.

 

[Zeil]

Hi Grove,

I've read about the sock trick too...

And while I can see what people are saying, that keeping a bird from doing what is naturally inclined to do is cruel, we are not in a position to keep a crowing rooster either.

I frankly think sending him to a farm away from the girls he's grown up with is a bit cruel as well.

 

[The Grove]

My rooster is so happy with his 7 soon to be 12 ladies. They are such a good asset for a flock. Especially if you free range.

Not even a week ago my roo saved the hens from a neighbors dog. He took a bit of a beating but he's alright. The dog ran way with a spur wound, I don't think he'll be coming back any time soon.

 

[Mrs. K]

Hi Grove,

I frankly think sending him to a farm away from the girls he's grown up with is a bit cruel as well.

Sending a single hen to a new flock is very hard on the bird. A single bird integration is difficult as all the flock knows this is a strange bird and are desparate to be above her in the pecking order, and therefore give it a peck.

However, an adult rooster is an easy introducton if there are no other roosters. The hens might fuss are first, and a dominate hen might chest bump, but they are all in love in a few hours. If he is still young, he may take some thumping of manners into him. That is normal chicken society.

Sending him to a farm is not cruel, he is not that attached to these particular birds. He won't miss them. He will just love the new hens.

Mrs k

 

[Zeil]

While not seeking to attack anyone's views on chicken social behaviours and emotional ranges, isn't it a little simplistic to claim animals don't become emotionally attached to each other, not ever In anyway under any circumstances?

 

[azygous]

Chickens do form attachments. However, chickens do adjust to life after that attachment ends, and it can happen very quickly.

Especially roosters. They are so hormonally driven, if there are hens where he's going, he will soon be so occupied and happy, he won't be pining for long.

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh I did not mean that they don't have friends, or birds that tend to hang together within the flock. They do, but they don't really remember once the bird is gone, or the bird is in new circumstances. Their brain really is not very big.