Why have a rooster, except for hatching out eggs?

[tdgill]

surely some people have well trained kids around their chickens no? i mean I wouldnt allow any children to chase my chickens around. I wonder how old her children are

 

[Steve B]

My kids are 7, 9 and 11. They are NOT allowed to chase the chickens. My one rooster has never been a problem with any of them.

 

[tdgill]

good to hear. Thanks for your input! I am sure people want to be careful just the same, but I would think with proper training/teaching on both parts, kids and fowl - that they could have a good trusting relationship.

 

[technodoll]

Why keep a roo?

Because they are SO DARN HANDSOME

(and they know it)

 

[Royd]

My rooster announces, to the world, that one of the hens has laid an egg...Same song as the hen, except a little lower, and louder.

 

[lovinlife]

I have a gorgeous Splash Ameraucana roo that runs with my hens. He's the first roo I've had that doesn't attack us. I took a different approach with him, I treat him like I'm the boss roo. He knows to run from me when he sees me, and that's a good thing. When I do pick him up, I hold him upside down with his legs in the air. He's very respectful because of it. I also don't allow him to eat scratch when I feed the hens.

I also have three bantam roos, that's what happens when you buy straight run from the feed store. They're in a 10'x10' cage with two bantam hens. I haven't decided if I want to turn them out with the full-sized chickens or not. They'll probably get put out with them when my chicks get big enough to go outside, but that won't be till May.

My Am roo has three EE hens that he "manages." The other hens don't give him the time of day and he leaves them alone. He'll mate them occasionally, but he mainly sticks with his three girls.

All of my roos crow all night long. The coop is far enough from the house that I don't hear them. That's a good thing. I can't imagine not having a roo, though.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I was mainly referring to younger children - age 5 or so and younger. To me it's not worth it. A child's eyes are just at the right level for most roos to hit if they go to flogging.
When our GS visits (he's 3 1/2) my roo is not allowed in the yard. He's a very good roo and mindful of humans, but I'm not willing to take a chance with the GS's eyes or face. Just MHO.

 

[nikischicks]

You are making me wish we had one. Could you even introduce one into a established flock? Mine are a year now. If you raise one from peep does that help them be more friendly?

 

[raeraemcrae]

Such great answers, everyone! The differing opinions are so useful. Some of those photos were just gorgeous! Now, I really want a rooster, but all things considered (urban lot, small trailer coop, beginner chick keeper), I think it will have to be a future hope. For my situation, it seems more practical to have only three or four hens to begin with. I may still consider the banty route some of you mentioned, but I was hoping to have a couple of araucana hens for the gorgeous eggs. I am not sure exactly what "banty" means, it that is just "small breed", or what. I am going to later go back over each response to see what else I can glean. Thank you all so much. Best thing I could have done before getting chickens was joining this group!

 

[silkydragon]

banty just means smaller chicken alot of the more popular large breeds like aurucana come in banty but for youre roo i would get a silkie roo mine are so nice and gentle the most agressive thing they do is play with my hoodie strings when i bend over but the thing about silkies is if you want a certan gender you have to buy an adult bird they are hard to tell the difference and you can get any breed of rooster with any breed of hen and they will be fine i was kinda worried about my giant bard rock (15pnd) with my sebright hen (36ounces) but she is just fine even when they are stuck in the coop do to the snow