Why/not a rooster?

[whitejerabias]

Pros and cons of keeping a rooster? I've heard they can be dangerous, but that is mostly from old hippie farmers' children who certainly weren't choosing breeds or hand raising chicks. I know they will help to keep the hens in check and can at least sound the alarm of danger. I will be embarking on this endeavor with two young children so their safety is priority, seconded only by the safety of the flock.

Oh, and I have heard that keeping a rooster can lead to baby chicks. Not sure how that works.

 

[itsmechrissy]

Cons: they are noisy (not that the hens aren't though). they can lead to baby chicks

Pro: they are beautiful, they can lead to baby chicks

 

[Sjisty]

Why do I love roosters? Let me count the ways -
1. They are prettier than hens.
2. They protect the flock.
3. They take care of their girls, making sure they get the best morsels.
4. I love their crows!
5. They are pretty goofy to watch sometimes.
6. They strut and carry on like they own the place, again, see #4.

Cons to owning roos? Zoning regulations, neighbors complaining. Yes, some will attack people, but if you teach your children to respect them, I think they will be okay. If a roo is especially aggressive, you can always invite him to dinner!

 

[GoldenSparrow]

They really protect the flock.
my roo has saved his flock mates from a dog twice!

 

[Katydid2011]

Quote:
I love this list of pros! Our roosters are beautiful, goofy, and chock full of personality. We absolutely love them!

 

[whitejerabias]

I think we'll be good on zoning and neighbors. We will by out in the woods with no real close neighbors and lots of predators. We do plan to get a big dog which will cut down on predators while it is out, but it will probably come a few months after the chickens. I plan to get appx a dozen hens for production, but I kind of want to keep it at that. With a rooster will I just keep multiplying endlessly or are hends like women and only fertile at certain times of the year/month? Eventually I want to keep a separate meat flock, but the layers will be a pet project with my girls and I don't really want to start killing off their pets (or mine) just yet. We'll save that lesson for when they do somethign REALLY bad.

 

[Sjisty]

If you collect the eggs, there will be no chicks. Hens are always fertile and can store the roos' sperm for a month. The eggs will only develop if a hen "goes broody" and sits on them until they hatch. Fertile eggs are just as good to eat as unfertile ones - there's really no difference.

 

[corgiscatsandchickens]

Quote:
Great book out there: Raising Chickens for Dummies. Not implying you're a dummy, but you're totally new to this. The book will help you a lot.

All an egg needs to be fertile is a rooster and a hen getting together. Your hen will lay eggs without a rooster, the eggs are only fertile if the roo is active with the hens. Fertile eggs taste just like non-fertile eggs. You will not be eating baby chicks if you eat fertile eggs. For a chick to begin to develop, the hen must incubate the fertile egg. THis whole process takes 21 days. The eggs can sit around for weeks before the hen starts to incubate. Until then, there is no baby chick there, just the potential.

You say you have a lot of predators around. If that's so, you probably can't free range your chickens with any success. You will have to build an enclosed run to go with your coop. A rooster can help you with predators, but your roo will give his life for his girls, as many on BYC have had to witness. If you have a lot of predators, fence your chickens.

You don't say how old your kids are. If they're really young, I'd advise no rooster. Roos are great, beautiful, full of personality, soundh the alarm when danger is nearby, keep down sqquabbling between the hens, and are generally wonderful to have around. YOu have to raise a rooster right though, otherwise he will always challenge your authority (some just will no matter what you do) . This can be quite dangerous when his spurs grow long and sharp. You don't want a child disfigured because you have a nasty roo. If you do have a nasty roo, I agree with another poster--invite him to dinner. He can be the guest of honor.

Get the book, read, read, read. Come here, ask lots of questions and read, read, read!

Good luck!

 

[littlecreekfarm]

They are beautiful, protective, i can hatch chicks when i want, i love to hear their crows



Sometimes they can be overly protective and attack, but none of mine are like that, and some people don't like their crows

 

[chicmom]

Oh my....Keeping a rooster is really a double edged sword......

Some of the benefits are, that they are just so beautiful, they will protect the flock, I personally love to hear a rooster crow.

Some of the bad things are, you might go through a few roosters until you find one that's right for you because some can have a terrible attitude. Even if you hand raise them from babies, once that testosterone hits, they can do a complete 360 and become really mean....That is definitely dangers for little children.

I do feel you have a 50/50 chance of getting a mean one, or a nice one.......Right now, I have two though...A 2 year old Buckeye rooster who is a champion, (I love him), and a young Coronation Sussex who is definitely a big teddy bear.....Very layed back.

Personally, there was a time when I was very anti-rooster. But now, since I've had more experience with them, due to hatching eggs myself, I like them and I'm happy to have my two. OOPS! I actually have three! The one in my bantam coop!

Love them all!

Sharon