Updated- Offered a free young roo, PICS in post #20!

[Lovable Chicks]

I too said NO roosters but then one of my hens went broody and I had a hard time getting fertile eggs for her. I finally found eggs and the same person offered me a black copper maran rooster once Momma is done with him. I also decided to keep a silkie rooster so will actually have 2 boys. Good luck and post pictures when U get the little guy.

 

[Tenmore]

Want another one?

 

[Mrs. K]

Well I think he is handsome, but then have seldom seen an ugly one! haha

If you get a broody, let her set close to the 3 weeks, and slip live chicks under her at night. If you don't want a rooster, there is no real need, other than sometimes it is hard to get fertilized eggs or chicks. But on the other hand, I have one and I like him, and it is fun.

The big issue I think has to be looked at squarely, is that sometimes a rooster gets mean, and they get mean fast, for no apparent reason, then they should be culled, so they don't hurt anyone, and they can do serious injury, and so as not to pass on those aggressive genes on down to the chicks.

many on here have suggestions for keeping them nice, sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't, it is really the luck of the draw. But you have to know going into keeping a rooster, that you might have to end it too.

MrsK

 

[hannakat]

Quote:

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
He is pretty! I've generally heard good things about BR roos, but of course I'm sure they are all different. The neighbors had gone out to dinner tonight, but tomorrow night I'll take me daughter to visit their 2 sheep and check about the little roo, she LOVES the sheep and sees them every time we enter or leave our driveway.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
That's exactly what I was thinking about the broody, it would be nice to let one do all the work for me with a few chicks plus I'd love to see some of the offspring crosses from my flock. I have some BCM hens and one is the sweetest bird I own besides my Partridge Rock, she lays the cutest little chocolate speckled eggs.

 

[Noymira]

Mrs. K :

The big issue I think has to be looked at squarely, is that sometimes a rooster gets mean, and they get mean fast, for no apparent reason, then they should be culled, so they don't hurt anyone, and they can do serious injury, and so as not to pass on those aggressive genes on down to the chicks.

many on here have suggestions for keeping them nice, sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't, it is really the luck of the draw. But you have to know going into keeping a rooster, that you might have to end it too.

MrsK

Thank you, I appreciate your advice. I have no problem culling a mean roo and eating him. I have a young child, no mean rooster will be tolerated. I told the neighbors as much, just in case the idea would bother them. We will be raising meat birds next year and processing ourselves, I want to know how to do it from start to finish so I can support my family with my hobby. We also eat a lot of venison when it's gifted to us from the hunters in my family; ground venison is a great substitute for ground beef!​

 

[Noymira]

I stopped and checked on the little roo, 6 weeks old, tonight. He's cute and almost as big as my smallest 8 week old. I want to bring him over Saturday morning when I let them out into the completed run for the first time. I'll be there to supervise and hopefully things will go well. I will post pictures!

 

[hcppam]

That's a good Idea. I have a roo I didn't want as I live in close quarters, however, i have no full time neighbors (live in a ski town) but I have fun watching him trying to get the girls into the coop even though he is only 2 1/2 months old.

 

[Noymira]

Here's the little guy!

Intergration has gone well so far. He's definitely at the bottom of the flock, and I've found out who is at the top. One of my BR pullets, also one of the biggest pullets, has decided to make sure he knows he's on the bottom. She chases him around occasionally, but they had one good spat the first hour he was in there. Otherwise everyone is getting along well, or at least ignoring him.

Here are the 7 pullets he's in with, he's about 2 weeks younger than they are.