Which Roo to Get Rid Of

[hazycats]

Hello! I am a brand-new chicken owner. I've had my chickens (2 Asian black hens, 1 Asian black roo, and 1 Cuckoo Maran Roo) for about 3 months now and need some advice.

We bought our chickens when they were chicks and had no idea how many hens and how many roos were in the group. Now that they've reached their full size, we need to know how to choose which Roo to keep: The Asian black or the Cuckoo Maran.

The Cuckoo Maran is dominant, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, because he gets very aggressive with me when I come near the coop or pen. He's also almost twice the size of the other rooster.

The Asian black is protective of the hens, but not aggressive with me. If I go near the hens, he lets me know that he's around, but he doesn't try to attack me.

They're both very beautiful roosters in their own way and because they're the first roosters I've ever had, I'm very attached to them. But one of them has to go and I'm having a very hard time figuring out which one to choose.

Thank you so much!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello! I am a brand-new chicken owner. I've had my chickens (2 Asian black hens, 1 Asian black roo, and 1 Cuckoo Maran Roo) for about 3 months now and need some advice.

We bought our chickens when they were chicks and had no idea how many hens and how many roos were in the group. Now that they've reached their full size, we need to know how to choose which Roo to keep: The Asian black or the Cuckoo Maran.

The Cuckoo Maran is dominant, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, because he gets very aggressive with me when I come near the coop or pen. He's also almost twice the size of the other rooster.

The Asian black is protective of the hens, but not aggressive with me. If I go near the hens, he lets me know that he's around, but he doesn't try to attack me.

They're both very beautiful roosters in their own way and because they're the first roosters I've ever had, I'm very attached to them. But one of them has to go and I'm having a very hard time figuring out which one to choose.

Thank you so much!

Keep the Asian Black rooster. Absolutely no question regarding this choice if one has to go, particularly given the size of the Cuckoo Maran compared to the Asian Black hens.

Mixing breeds has a particular set of problems.

 

[EggWalrus]

I would keep the Cuckoo Moron. Better genes than a cheap hybrid "Asian Black". The Moron may quit being aggressive once the mutt is gone and has the ladies to himself.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What are your goals for those males? Why do you want a male? The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs, everything else is personal preference. Nothing wrong with personal preference, it can be a strong motivator. I generally recommend you keep as few as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters, just that problems are more likely. With just two females problems are pretty likely unless you pen one or both males separately. Depending on your goals the correct answer could easily be zero. Or you might be able to keep one with the hens.

Once you decide on your goals, which rooster best meets those goals, if you decide to keep one of them? That should be your goals, not mine or anyone else's. Without knowing your goals I don't have a clue which would be the right choice for you.

 

[Mrs. K]

Cull both of them. Roosters take some experience, and really should be covering considerably more birds than 2 hens. Your flock will be much happier with them both gone.

If asked, I strongly recommend an all hen flock the first year. It is very difficult to keep a rooster in a small coop/run set up in a true backyard flock. And roosters raised with just flock mates tend to be bullies. Wait a year to add roosters. Roosters take experience with chickens. If you really want one, wait until next year and then look around for a really nice rooster that someone has to get rid of.

Culling anything is tough, but not all birds will fit in your set up. Your hens will thank you.

Mrs K

 

[EggWalrus]

What are your goals for those males? Why do you want a male? The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs, everything else is personal preference. Nothing wrong with personal preference, it can be a strong motivator. I generally recommend you keep as few as you can and still meet your goals. That's not because you are guaranteed problems with more roosters, just that problems are more likely. With just two females problems are pretty likely unless you pen one or both males separately. Depending on your goals the correct answer could easily be zero. Or you might be able to keep one with the hens.

Once you decide on your goals, which rooster best meets those goals, if you decide to keep one of them? That should be your goals, not mine or anyone else's. Without knowing your goals I don't have a clue which would be the right choice for you.

This is good advise!

 

[hazycats]

Thanks for all of the advice, everybody! I'll cull the Marans first, then, and see how things go with just the Asian Black. If that seems like an unhappy mix, we'll cull the Asian Black, too.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good idea

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

If they were mine I wouldn't deal with any dominance towards me or the hens.