I have a Buff Orp rooster, Leo, about 1 year old. He is a pretty good rooster for his girls, and has been very good to the 9 chicks one of the girls hatched out. But, he is somewhat aggressive to me and very aggressive to my DD (12 yrs old). He is a really big boy and my daughter is kind of afraid of him. My DS and DH are bucking me, but I think I should process him, and either let his two sons grow up and choose one of them, or get a new roo in the spring (new blood lines).
Reasons for processing Leo:
1) I could let all the LF birds free range at the same time, only one grown rooster (in another run/coop) so no fighting
2) the hens could grow some feathers back. (I only have 5 BO hens with Leo and their backs are getting quite bare.) I have two 3 month old pullets, and 2 or 3 almost 2 month old pullets that will be in there next year so hopefully they will keep their feathers a bit better.
3) why keep a big aggressive rooster over winter that will only add to the feed bill if I don't want fertilized eggs now?
4) I am thinking that the little boys that are 2 months old now will be old enough next spring to "lead" the flock
Reasons for not processing Leo:
1)I know that some roosters mellow out with age
2) with new youngsters there are no guarantees as to behavior
Any one else have any thoughts?
Reasons for processing Leo:
1) I could let all the LF birds free range at the same time, only one grown rooster (in another run/coop) so no fighting
2) the hens could grow some feathers back. (I only have 5 BO hens with Leo and their backs are getting quite bare.) I have two 3 month old pullets, and 2 or 3 almost 2 month old pullets that will be in there next year so hopefully they will keep their feathers a bit better.
3) why keep a big aggressive rooster over winter that will only add to the feed bill if I don't want fertilized eggs now?
4) I am thinking that the little boys that are 2 months old now will be old enough next spring to "lead" the flock
Reasons for not processing Leo:
1)I know that some roosters mellow out with age
2) with new youngsters there are no guarantees as to behavior
Any one else have any thoughts?