YO GEORGIANS! :)

[eldridgebrood]

So we are/were considering getting a rooster to help protect our girls, we just lost one to a hawk a few hours ago (and **** if I didn't cry when my 4 year old found her and apologized for not taking enough care of her

)
however, seeing the last few posts, I was wondering how a rooster would do introducing them to a mix of ducks and chickens...and how they'd be with my kids, they're very hands on with our girls..
We also saw turkeys, guineas and peacocks will help ...does anyone have any experience in any of this?

 

[katiedarling]

So we are/were considering getting a rooster to help protect our girls, we just lost one to a hawk a few hours ago (and **** if I didn't cry when my 4 year old found her and apologized for not taking enough care of her

)
however, seeing the last few posts, I was wondering how a rooster would do introducing them to a mix of ducks and chickens...and how they'd be with my kids, they're very hands on with our girls..
We also saw turkeys, guineas and peacocks will help ...does anyone have any experience in any of this?

I can't speak to the kids part since I don't have any here, but I can say that Stanley is an awesme roo when it comes to protecting his ladies. If a butterfly even flutters past he's giving them a signal that something's amiss. Even airplanes. And to be honest he's mostly pretty docile with rhe exception of the 2 times he got ornery. That could've been from being in the coop too long while I was finishing the run. He's still a 'teenager' technically. I heard that they calm down a bit when they get more mature because they get used to handling the hormone fluctuations. Not sure if there's truth to that. Just what I heard. I'm new to all this chicken business.

 

[PeAckAnBiTs]

It depends on the breed you get some are more agresive I've than others

 

[PeAckAnBiTs]

And I guess it helps also if your family are very hands on with your flock an a new roo so they wouldn't see you as something trying to harm them. Then the roo wouldn't have any reason to attack yall unless it's a agresive breed

 

[PapaChaz]

Stanley started doing that to me the week before last! I read somewhere(I forget) that one way to stop it, is to do that. Basically just get in his face and give it right back.

I read it also helps to chase him around when he challenges you and also that if you snatch him up, take him out of his familiar space(so he's forced to trust you to protect him) and walk around with him for about 5 minutes each day, he'll stop challenging you all together. Allegedly, he's supposed to get the picture that you're the head roo and he's only the OG, when you're NOT there. Admittedly, I've tried this and it seems to work. In a few days, he's back to not bothering and I can approach him and any of his ladies whenever & however I feel like it. We'll see how long that lasts!

It probably also confirms to my neighbor that I'm a complete weirdo for walking around the front yard talking to a rooster.

yeah I've gone back down there several times this afternoon and followed/chased him around, as if I'm challenging him. Needless to say, I do believe he got the point, and not just the one on the end of my boot.......LOL

I do realize that this was inevitable, and I was prepared for it. It even makes yesterdays miss all the more funny, he tried to do it and hit the hanging feeder instead. Poor stupid rooster, LOL

 

[rossfam06]

So we are/were considering getting a rooster to help protect our girls, we just lost one to a hawk a few hours ago (and **** if I didn't cry when my 4 year old found her and apologized for not taking enough care of her

)
however, seeing the last few posts, I was wondering how a rooster would do introducing them to a mix of ducks and chickens...and how they'd be with my kids, they're very hands on with our girls..
We also saw turkeys, guineas and peacocks will help ...does anyone have any experience in any of this?

We bought an already adult polish roo and he is the sweetest thing. The girls can pick him up and no problem. But my CCL Roo is the one that jumps my kids if they come in the coop.

 

[eldridgebrood]

I can't speak to the kids part since I don't have any here, but I can say that Stanley is an awesme roo when it comes to protecting his ladies. If a butterfly even flutters past he's giving them a signal that something's amiss. Even airplanes. And to be honest he's mostly pretty docile with rhe exception of the 2 times he got ornery. That could've been from being in the coop too long while I was finishing the run. He's still a 'teenager' technically. I heard that they calm down a bit when they get more mature because they get used to handling the hormone fluctuations. Not sure if there's truth to that. Just what I heard. I'm new to all this chicken business.

It depends on the breed you get some are more agresive I've than others

And I guess it helps also if your family are very hands on with your flock an a new roo so they wouldn't see you as something trying to harm them. Then the roo wouldn't have any reason to attack yall unless it's a agresive breed

Thank yall. We are new to this chicken business too...our ducks usually do a pretty good job warning every one, but if they split up the chickens are on their own. Guess we will be doing breed research. Don't know what we will do if we lose any more!

 

[PapaChaz]

And I guess it helps also if your family are very hands on with your flock an a new roo so they wouldn't see you as something trying to harm them. Then the roo wouldn't have any reason to attack yall unless it's a agresive breed

no.

I've been very "hands on" with these since day one. I've gone down there and had them crawling in my lap when I'd get settled. This is a rooster growing to adulthood, and doing what roosters do. Was he being protective? I don't think that was it, because I'd already walked right through the middle of them. The little bugger waited until I had my back turned, and tried to sucker punch me from behind, and then stood there with his head cocked to see if I'd do anything about it.

I do know some breeds are more aggressive than others, but I totally disagree with your 'the roo wouldn't have any reason to attack'.....it's a male dominance thing, pure and simple, that is built into the males of most animal species.

 

[PeAckAnBiTs]

PapaChez...Thats funny lol...I agree, chickens are jus like us humans we have our good days an our bad days.... then add hormones, some lady friends, an breed gentics. Then your roo is 10ft tall an bullet proof.....

 

[eldridgebrood]

We bought an already adult polish roo and he is the sweetest thing. The girls can pick him up and no problem. But my CCL Roo is the one that jumps my kids if they come in the coop.

Thank you. That's what I'm worried about, I know the first time that bird gets one of my kids, my husband will have him on the table! Are polish typically a "sweeter" breed or did yall get lucky and get a particularly sweet roo?