Why have a rooster, except for hatching out eggs?

[nikischicks]

So could you have a banty rooster with regular sized ladies?

 

[gritsar]

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Yes. Your fertlity rate may not be all that great, depending on the "skill" of that individual rooster, but he can still do all the other roo jobs just fine. It doesn't take a giant roo to warn of predators.

 

[tdgill]

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sounds like a you have a great bunch of hens to make any roo happy! I am sure you can find someone looking to rehome a tame and well mannered roo. He might be a little over excited when he first meets the girls, and some of them might not want to give him the time of day. But you have a nice number to work with. I have a buff orp roo and a black copper marans roo. They are both very sweet. I've never had to assert my dominance over them, and they obviously trust me with the girls too.

 

[tdgill]

I understand your concern gritsar. Definately a situation with small children to be concerned about. But there are ways to keep everyone safe as you said.

 

[newchickmom]

My roo is very calm and takes good care of his girls. As good as he can take care of 45 hens.

Sometimes it's funny to watch him try to round them all up unsuccessfully.
I have no problem with him around the grandkids. The kids have been taught to be calm around the chickens and the little ones, under 5, are not allowed near the chicken-yard without close adult supervision.
My eight year old grandson will spend hours with the chickens, feeding them grass (he sets up a restraurant), cleaning the nest boxes, and holding and petting the hens. The rooster just treats him like he belongs there.

 

[schmije]

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We raised our mean roo, Walter, from a peep. He was about to go into the soup pot because of his aggresiveness toward people when he was taken by a predator. We're almost positive he sacrificed himself to save the girls. We got two replacement roos from a friend who had just the two roos and no hens. I was afraid that our eleven girls would gang up on the new guys, but the boys whipped them into shape in a matter of SECONDS! It was awesome to watch them work. They eventually split the flock so that each roo had his own ladies. They were never aggressive toward people like Walter was. They did crow ALL day long. They only crowed at night if something woke them up, and they got up very early. Unfortunately we had a fire this winter, and we lost both of them. Russell Crow and Elvis (the two new roos) showed us that roosters are a great addition to a flock. Our four remaining girls seem lonely without them. I'm definitely interested in finding a new roo if we don't get one in our peeps that will arrive tomorrow.

 

[kywilber]

I have a flock of 29 RIR's. There is 8 roo's in it right now. They are 17 weeks. I know it is time to weed out the roos. How many should i keep for 21 hens?

 

[Lady_Cluck]

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I'd say two.

 

[bison]

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Honestly, as much as I love having roos, I don't think I would in your situation. With only three hens in a tractor type set up they'll probably get overbred (Not for sure, but likely) and if that happens what will you do? It can be hard to find a roo a good home that doesn't involve freezer camp. Id stick with hens for now and when you enlarge (and you probably will, 'cause were all addicts) then think about getting a roo. Also, since you live on an urban lot do you know if you have any laws or neighborhood covenents that wouldn't allow you to keep a roo or even hens? If you're going to be an underground chicken keeper you definetley don't want the attention a roo would bring.

Wise...very wise. If you are getting chickens for eggs, and they are going to be in a tractor on an urban lot, and space is limited in the tractor, I would suggest all hens as well. It might go a long way with your neighbors to slowly get them used to the idea of chickens next door. Plus, again, if space is limited, use all of it up with egg producers. It's not like they are going to be free-ranging, where they would need the watchful eye of the roo.

 

[bluemoonluck]

I just found a new home for my two roos a few days ago

They were both beautiful and good around my kids (8 and 9), but they were making a LOT of noise and it was driving me and my neighbors crazy! I live on a small .76 acre lot in a rural subdivision, so some of my neighbors have chickens too, but I couldn't justify keeping the boys with all the noise they made.

Now its just the 17 girls...they seem to be adjusting okay. They free range in the same pasture as my pony & my goat, with a barn they can run into whenever they want. They did get "stuck" in the far corner of the pasture yesterday when Pony decided to do some happy dancing to celebrate the imminent arrival of spring

which never happened when I had my roos - I guess the boys used to lead them into the barn when the hullabaloo started? I had to go out there and herd the poor chicks back to the barn myself. Scolded the pony, but she didn't seem to be bothered by it!

If I could find a roo that was more quiet, that would be different....but I'm guessing its pretty impossible to have a quiet rooster

!