What if you get a roo?

[adstowe]

We live in the country so no rules against having them here. And it did happen to us......we bought 12 supposed pullets and ended up with 1 cockerel. We decided he could stay.....right up to the point where he declared war on all humankind. So he went to someone’s freezer camp.

We now have a new sweet rooster we adopted from a breeders. We wanted one to keep our girls safe free ranging and help minimize fights between the girls. I have no problem with nice roosters who realize that humans are off limits when it comes to attacking. I actually enjoy his antics and funny little warble sounds.

I won't keep a mean rooster. It's just not worth it. I do always have a roo though. I love watching them tidbit the girls. I take treats out to them and everyone comes running. It never fails. The roo isn't even in the first half of the birds to get to the food, but when he does he starts dancing around and giving his little "Look what I found for you!" call and all I can think is "Really? I just gave that to them and you show up late for the party and try and take credit?"

 

[New2Chicks97]

I won't keep a mean rooster. It's just not worth it. I do always have a roo though. I love watching them tidbit the girls. I take treats out to them and everyone comes running. It never fails. The roo isn't even in the first half of the birds to get to the food, but when he does he starts dancing around and giving his little "Look what I found for you!" call and all I can think is "Really? I just gave that to them and you show up late for the party and try and take credit?"

Oh, I agree 100%. No mean roosters are allowed to stay here either.

And our boy takes credit for the scratch grain each and every time too. Funny thing is he isn’t even the one that comes begging. It is always my little EE girl. The minute they get out to free range she runs to the shed where their food & treats are and stands there waiting for me.

The new boy passed his first stress test without attacking us so he is good. We had to physically move the flock to the new larger coop and run tonight which meant carrying them all to the coop. Of course some of the girls still scream bloody murder when picked up. He ran up to my daughter who was holding the screaming girl then just stopped and paced. No attacks just pacing and voicing his concern.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

I would get rid of him unless you need him. Less mouths to feed and with kids running around my place I don’t want someone to get hurt. One of my hens is mean enough already for a roo!

 

[adstowe]

I don't mind them acting distressed when I handle the girls. As long as they respect my space and stress out outside my bubble I'm good with it. I'd probably be mad if they weren't at least a little agitated when one of the hens is upset. As long as they remember that I am the giant that brings treats, they are on the right track. When they start thinking they can take the giant... Things don't go so well for them.

 

[New2Chicks97]

I would get rid of him unless you need him. Less mouths to feed and with kids running around my place I don’t want someone to get hurt. One of my hens is mean enough already for a roo!

I have one of those hens too. Though she only seems to pick on me, if it were my daughter it would be game over for her. I have named her Pecky B!?&ch as she has given me countless bruises on my legs from her nips.

I keep threatening to send her to the great crockpot in the sky but as long as she only irritates me and still lays eggs she can stay a bit longer.

 

[adstowe]

I only have one hen who ever pecks at me. A barred rock who is "special". She is the one who is most friendly and willing to let you pick her up, yet if you don't pay attention she'll bite you. She'll try and take out your toes if you throw on sandals to run out and check their feed. She's not mean at all, but she is, umm... Unique. She's the one who when everyone is in a group hunting grasshoppers is 50 feet away staring off into space. Like I said "SPECIAL"

 

[bobbi-j]

I have a friend who would eat him.

Good for your friend! That's what we do with our extras, too!

Would any of you just keep him and ignore the rules? That’s what I would do

And by doing so you would risk not only losing your rooster, but potentially your whole flock, and possibly causing the city you live in to pass ordinances banning all chickens because those who have them don't follow the rules. Would it be worth it? If you can't have a rooster, your best bet is to get pullets at POL. At least that way you know for sure what you have.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

The 3 older hens, (we took in from landlord) came from a group of 12. Suppose to be all females, but 1 was male. He ended up being very human aggressive. He would hide under the low to ground pine tree branches, waiting, then run out and attack. Got me in the arm, several stitches. Smacked him hard with the cane I had. Landlord's son made him coyote food.

 

[aart]

Would any of you just keep him and ignore the rules? That’s what I would do

And by doing so you would risk not only losing your rooster, but potentially your whole flock, and possibly causing the city you live in to pass ordinances banning all chickens because those who have them don't follow the rules. Would it be worth it? If you can't have a rooster, your best bet is to get pullets at POL. At least that way you know for sure what you have.

Exactly what I was going to say...PLUS who would pay the fines @AnimalGeek23 ?

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Maybe I’ll go with just finding him a new home in the local farm...