Why/not a rooster?

[JodyJo]

Did anyone say they are beautiful!?
Love my roos....fun to watch, protectors, peace keepers.

My little boy learned fast not to chase the hens, the roo stepped right up to stop him...now my son gives him a wide berth
when walking outside...! Teach respect, and remember he has a job to do, protect...against anything he sees as a threat.

 

[whitejerabias]

Oh I love the .... For Dummies series!

We haven't moved yet, but are in the woods so I am imagining lots of predators. I will definitely be building them a nice big predator proof pen, but was thinking of letting them range during the day while I am home. Maybe not the greatest idea? Yeah, my girls are young and small. Very smart, and very respectful of all living creatures, but still small and well... young. Okay, so no rooster for now. Perhaps once I get a handle on this and want the meat flock.

New question: Some hens like to go broody without being fertilized, right? That means they like to sit on eggs and try to hatch them? So... if I get a broody hen and then order some chicks might she foster them? And if that works, if she is 'tame' will she allow me to handle the chicks?

 

[whitejerabias]

Oh way to go JodyJo, just when I have decided a roo is not for me you have to go and post such a beautiful picture.

Gah!

That is a gorgeous boy!

 

[Sjisty]

If you have a broody hen, you would be better off letting her hatch eggs. She isn't just going to accept chicks and will probably kill them. Plus, there's no such thing as a tame "broody." The sweetest hen will overnight turn into a bloodthirsty evil ball of feathers that will scream and strike any finger she can reach! They will go back to their own sweet selves once their broody urges are finished, though.

 

[whitejerabias]

Aaah, good to know. So If I have a hen that goes broody, she's going to set herself down on a couple of eggs. I can get her some fertile ones to hatch, but she's not going to let me near the babies? Or just while she is hatching them out?

 

[Sjisty]

She will probably let you near the babies after a day or so.

 

[corgiscatsandchickens]

Quote:
No such thing as a tame broody!

But they are great fun. If a hen goes broody and you don't want to break her up (and that can be very difficult) get fertilized eggs--breed of your choice--and let her set them. She'll raise them as her own and never think twice. You'll only have to put up with a screeching, hissing, pecking, biting, ball of insanity for 21 days or so.

 

[EweSheep]

I've got an excellent broody mom that would be the evilest hen alive....for two and half months until she gave up. One time she stayed broody for three months, talk about tentaciious! She successfully three batches of chicks from the hatchery, rejected one this year. So next year I will see if she will do it again and probably give her the retirement from motherhood IF I can find a suitable replacement for her.

I think folks should have at least one or two broodies per flock, that way when you have baby chicks either from hatching OR from hatcheries, they are electric and fuel free broody machines!

As for roos, only gentlemen here. No aggressive ones, I don't care how close you are but safety in both parties are paramount. I live in the city and a roo will come and visit the ladies for the winter and early spring. Before the neighbors get their windows open around March, the roo is gone to another home.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A broody will even sit on an empty nest. If no fertile eggs, it's best to break them immediately. The longer they're broody, the longer it takes to break them and the longer before they resume laying.

When I decide to cull a very vocal rooster I can't get over how peaceful it is around here for a few days.

Any rooster can become an attack bird but IMO the breed has a lot to do with it. Also, I move very slowly around roosters and bring treats. Predators move fast and other roosters don't bring treats. Since I've become more careful, no more attacks.

I haven't had a ton of roosters, about 7 different breeds. I've had several Penedesenca roosters and no sign of aggressiveness from any of them. They are, however great protectors.

If you want to have purebred chicks you're stuck with the breed of roo you decide on for your layers.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts and I love all of my boys. All of my boys have been good boys. I did have one once that tried to test me. I had one young boy that kind of attacked me from behind but wasn't anything serious. I think he was just testing me. I gave him a boot clear across my yard with the side of my foot and he went ass over applecart across the yard. A couple of days later he tried it again so I booted him again. After that he hasn't tried it again. If you chase them with a broom then they will be afraid of the broom and not you so the broom becomes the alpha not you. Also if you can pick the rooster up and take hold his comb and pull his head down until it touches his chest. Do not let his head up until he relaxes then let his head come back up and repeat and as long as he is resistant with his head down in his chest just hold it there until he quits resisting. Do this until you can put his head down without him resisting. This shows him that you are the alpha. I have had a lot of roosters and it works. Also if the Roo does this to another member of the family the process has to be repeated until he recognizes that person too as an alpha. This has worked for me and my birds. All of my boys have been real gentlemen.

My boys.
Chester

Minor

Major

Rufus

Moe

Larry