Which rooster to keep?

[citychicks99]

We have a 1.5 year old RIR rooster who came with a hen and they're both at the top of the pecking order since we got them first. The rooster mated with a cream legbar and she hatched 5 chicks. It looks like 2 of them are cockerels. They're about 11 weeks old. I still can't tell them apart. This breed is very skittish so they run when I approach them.

My RIR rooster was aggressive at first but since I've been scaring him with a broom every time I see him, he hasn't tried it again since and will run or get ready to run when he sees me. He's a very big boy, at around 10-12 pounds. There's no doubt he can protect the hens, but at 1.5 years old, is he already considered old?

I will most likely have to start deciding who has to go when the two cockerels start crowing. My mom's friend wants a rooster to mate with her hens. If she has enough hens, I'll see if she wants two cocks, but I can't decide who gets to stay.

The obvious answer might be to get rid of the RIR. I'm wondering how the RIR hen will behave if he's gone. She's a bully to the other chickens. If he's gone, will she calm down?

 

[azygous]

You can't predict chicken behavior any more than you can predict human behavior because it's dependent on more than just one factor. Breed characteristics, genetics, individual temperament and environment all play roles in behavior.

Your best path toward deciding which rooster to keep or give away depends on your goals and reasons for keeping a flock. Do you want the best rooster for breeding or the best for flock protector? Is temperament most important or is it genetics?

As for the RIR hen's reaction to have the RIP rooster given away, she will adjust, and her behavior may not change much, if any. Chickens have a relationship with each member of the flock, not just one rooster. While we may view him as leadership material, the hens may have an entirely different view of him.

 

[Isadora]

There's no doubt he can protect the hens, but at 1.5 years old, is he already considered old?

No, not old at all.
Only rooster I would consider old at that age would be a Cornish cross, a meat bird that's supposed to be slaughtered at a couple months old.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I still can't tell them apart.

Then it doesn't matter. Let your Mom's friend choose.

 

[citychicks99]

I think I might be leaning towards keeping the RIR. I let them free range and everyone has been safe so far and I'm afraid something bad might happen if I change that. And if I have to give away two birds it seems to make sense to give away the two brothers so they can keep each other company in a new place. I'll have to see what they're like when fully grown though to make sure.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

I think I might be leaning towards keeping the RIR. I let them free range and everyone has been safe so far and I'm afraid something bad might happen if I change that. And if I have to give away two birds it seems to make sense to give away the two brothers so they can keep each other company in a new place. I'll have to see what they're like when fully grown though to make sure.

Do you prefer blue eggs or green or brown? Since your legbar crosses are possibly green eggers and your rir is a brown egg carrier, maybe that might matter to you what color the rooster passes on to the chicks? Or maybe it matters to your friend? Just a thought.

 

[citychicks99]

Do you prefer blue eggs or green or brown? Since your legbar crosses are possibly green eggers and your rir is a brown egg carrier, maybe that might matter to you what color the rooster passes on to the chicks? Or maybe it matters to your friend? Just a thought.

The color of the eggs doesn't matter to me. I might get a whole new breed of chicks in a year or two anyway to avoid too much inbreeding.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Do you want the best rooster for breeding or the best for flock protector? Is temperament most important or is it genetics?

Temperament can be genetic, so the RIR rooster may produce sons who are also human aggressive.

Are the current cockerels showing human aggression or are they submissive/tame so far?

 

[citychicks99]

Temperament can be genetic, so the RIR rooster may produce sons who are also human aggressive.

Are the current cockerels showing human aggression or are they submissive/tame so far?

They're tame so far but they're only 3 months old. I believe the RIR was pretty tame too until about 6 or 7 months old. He's gotten used to me and doesn't try and attack me but I wouldn't trust him around other people.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

They're tame so far but they're only 3 months old. I believe the RIR was pretty tame too until about 6 or 7 months old. He's gotten used to me and doesn't try and attack me but I wouldn't trust him around other people.

Hopefully the cockerels don’t turn out aggressive like their dad, then your friend would have to deal with that.