Would you add a rooster?

[KRack]

I currently have 6 hens on about 1.8 acres. They free range and I've had no predator problems. I've considered getting a rooster several times, but haven't ever pulled the trigger. I'm nervous about all the possible negatives (too rough with the hens, over mating them (especially the one hen I have with a limp), being mean to my kids). The positives I see are that I could hatch my own eggs if/when I needed to, and I also just really like listening to roosters.

What are your experiences and thoughts?

 

[nuthatched]

If you don't want one, don't get one. There's little reason to have on unless you want fertile eggs. They aren't effective predator control as they often lose their lived in defense of the hens.
You'll also need at least 3 more hens if you get a roo.
A good rooster is fantastic, and they're readily available. It helps to get a young cockerel and let the older hens raise him so he learns manners.

 

[Isadora]

I wouldn't get one unless you're willing to do what it takes if he turns out aggressive or is too rough on your girls. Meaning, you can eat him or give him to someone who will, or some other arrangement.

 

[3KillerBs]

The positives I see are that I could hatch my own eggs if/when I needed to, and I also just really like listening to roosters.

I also like hearing my boys crow.

It's good that you are really thinking about why you want a rooster. Too many people go into it impulsively and with no realistic idea of what they could be getting into.

Do you think that you're capable of dealing decisively with a problem bird if you get one? Cockerels are a major gamble as to how they turn out and while some breeds have reputations for one behavior or another, the individual birds' temperaments vary wildly.

If you're wanting to breed your own birds, you'll need to consider what qualities you want to take forward in your flock -- production characteristics, temperament, coloration, hardiness, etc.

The usual recommendation is 1 male for every 10 females -- which isn't a guarantee that there won't be over-mating issues (I'm at 1-10 with mine and have 3 barebacked hens, one significantly so). If you decide to get a male one option would be to order more straight-run chicks than you want to keep, choose the best male and the best females and sell or eat the rest.

Or buy sexed males and females, against getting extras and picking the best to keep.

Or, as another alternative, get some more girls and keep your eye out for a mature male who has to be rehomed but is just such a good boy that the owner can't bear to eat him.

@Mrs. K has good advice in re: finding a good rooster.

 

[KRack]

Awesome, thank you all for your thoughts!! While I would be prepared to deal with an aggressive rooster accordingly, I don't want to add more hens to my flock at this time, so I'll probably hold off on adding a roo. I appreciate your perspectives!

 

[Cheems]

Honestly, I think it depends, the real benefits of having a rooster are hatching eggs. Another benefit though, and this doesn't go for all roosters, but my rooster will lead the flock, he really is quite gentle with the hens and I think ive noticed he will even call the hens over when he finds food, its really adorable when I give him treats, he will call over the hens are share with them. Some roosters can be REALLY awful though, but some will just be the sweetest chickens you have ever seen.

But if your looking at it from a point of view of, what absolute benefits of having a rooster is there, its mainly just hatching eggs, and you really do run the risk of getting a bad rooster, so unless your ready to eat, or find someone else to eat, or find a new home of a agressive rooster, I wouldn't get one, plus your flock isn't going to benefit from a rooster in too many ways in your situation, but in mine a rooster is very helpful, especially the one I have.

Last thing I will say, is be aware a rooster can be very agressive towards hens, just because its a nice rooster 99% of the time, when a rooster mates with hens it can be agressive even if the rooster is pretty nice, so keep that in mind you probably want to get a few more hens if you do get a rooster

 

[Cheems]

Awesome, thank you all for your thoughts!! While I would be prepared to deal with an aggressive rooster accordingly, I don't want to add more hens to my flock at this time, so I'll probably hold off on adding a roo. I appreciate your perspectives!

Id pass on getting a rooster if you dont want to get more hens

 

[NatJ]

The positives I see are that I could hatch my own eggs if/when I needed to...

If you hatch chicks, about half will be cockerels. So I suggest you think about what you would do with the cockerels. If you like the idea of butchering your own chickens, maybe try getting a rooster, and if he doesn't work out you can butcher him. But if you cannot bear the thought of butchering a bird you know, you may want to think really hard before hatching chicks (finding good homes for cockerels can be difficult.)

I'm nervous about all the possible negatives (too rough with the hens, over mating them (especially the one hen I have with a limp), being mean to my kids).

Yes, those are definitely things to consider.

A good fence can help keep the chickens apart from the kids.
Butchering a rooster can stop all problems with that rooster.

But you are right that no rooster means no problems with a rooster.
So if you like your flock the way it is, I would suggest you just keep things the way they are for now, rather than getting a rooster at this time.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I have a similar situation as you. 6 hens (well the truth is I just got 5 more chicks so techincally 11,) they roam 2acres and in 20years no predator issues until a few weeks ago, a hawk killed one hen. So I was considering a rooster but the cons outweighted the pros for me. I remember being terrified of my grandmas rooster's shithead and crazy. They would go after us as kids. And my step-Dad almost lost his leg with an infection from being punctured by a spur. I would be able to get rid of a mean one no problem. But when it comes to breeding, I do like my purebreds. And so alot of careful planning would have to go into that. I made sure to get chick breeds where if one turned out to be a cockerel I'd keep it but they're all looking like pullets and I'm glad. I mean what did they cost? $3 each, I don't think I need to breed to save that cost... So back to the protection. I have a fake Rooster and a fake Eagle on top of my coop now and so far no more Hawk problems. Oh and I even have the most rare of neighbors who bugs me to get a rooster because he loves the alarm in the morning. Who knows maybe one day but for now just doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[Tonyroo]

I guess I can't relate to all the people that have had bad experiences with unruly roosters and the bad behaviors. I just never experienced bad rooster behaviors and I have had 7 so far, but they all got butchered. Only because I don't want all the crowing, one is enough.