What are your thoughts on Barred Rock Roosters?

[Kb0507]

So now we've got the roo sorted - tell us about the hens he will be introduced to?

ETA: WOW! I just enlarged your pics - HE IS GORGEOUS! Is he from a breeder??

Thank you! Yes, we purchased him from a breeder. My daughters are in 4-h and are planning on showing him. As long as he's not a jerk, lol.
As for his soon to be harem, we have a a small, but diverse, flock. 1 new hampshire red, 1 ameraucana, and 3 australorps. We also had 2 more new hampshires and an orpington, but they died from a mushroom problem we've had........ We are also currently brooding 3 chicks to add in a few months. 1 lavender orpington, 1 columbian wyandotte, and 1 faverolles. So it should be an interesting bunch. Hopefully everyone fits in well together

 

[Kb0507]

There is a difference of opinion on rooster ownership.

Some believe handling improves the rooster; others believe handling causes problems.

I personally believe that a rooster should be of the temperament that allows you to handle them when you need to treat or take care of them otherwise they are difficult to treat. (Edited to clarify...treat as to medicate or dust, not feed).

I handle them when they are babies and watch their temperaments. I watch until about 10 weeks of age. I can usually tell by then which are on the high defense and which would rather retreat. I cull the defensive ones.

I then begin to temper the other by not over handling other than occasionally taking them off the roost to give them a treat (as in frozen corn) so that I can handle them at will. Those that continue to respond to that and can remain calm I keep. Those that don't I rehome.

I then "own" my yard. My rooster must stay out of my way, must never insist on treats, must never defend against me if I handle a hen. With the selection process above, I thus far have been lucky to have found a really nice stable boy.

I have re-homed and culled a lot until I found the one I wanted.

So for me, I think it is important to handle them when they are young up to a point, but then when they enter puberty, letting them know you "own" the yard. Any guff, I reassess. Taking at will off the roost then rewarding with treat helps reinforce I am "top" for me. Others may fill differently.

LofMc

Thanks for the info. My girls are planning on showing him, hopefully, for 4h, so he needs to allow some handling to some extent. I've talked to them about how they can't treat him like their hens, but I dont know how much or little handling he needs.

 

[biophiliac]

Thank you! Yes, we purchased him from a breeder. My daughters are in 4-h and are planning on showing him. As long as he's not a jerk, lol.
As for his soon to be harem, we have a a small, but diverse, flock. 1 new hampshire red, 1 ameraucana, and 3 australorps. We also had 2 more new hampshires and an orpington, but they died from a mushroom problem we've had........ We are also currently brooding 3 chicks to add in a few months. 1 lavender orpington, 1 columbian wyandotte, and 1 faverolles. So it should be an interesting bunch. Hopefully everyone fits in well together

Thanks for the info. My girls are planning on showing him, hopefully, for 4h, so he needs to allow some handling to some extent. I've talked to them about how they can't treat him like their hens, but I dont know how much or little handling he needs.

That sounds awesome !! I bet there are some excellent Youtube video on handling poultry for show

 

[Kb0507]

That sounds awesome !! I bet there are some excellent Youtube video on handling poultry for show

I never thought about checking YouTube. We went to a poultry seminar last Saturday, which is how we ended up with the rooster in the first place lol . They went over the basics of showing, but I'll definitely check YouTube, because you're probably right. Thanks