Rooster/hen question

[rideaway]

So I got my five young laying hens, and the lady threw in a rooster as part of the deal.

I didn't really want him, due to the small size of the chicken yard (I will only let them out to free range when I am home) and extra feed for no output. I plan on finding a incubator and getting fertilized eggs from a friend to hatch chicks for upcoming years.

I have had such a varied batch of opinions... People say "your hens will be happier with him around" or "they will lay better" or "he'll protect them." Of course, these folks haven't had chickens for years (like me).

So, what is your opinion? Thanks!

[goodwifefarm]

If you don't care about having fertile eggs, then I wouldn't keep a rooster. I have been attacked more times than I can count and the last time had to have a tetnus shot! I was bloody from my upper thigh all the way to my ankle and had huge bruises! Should have seen the doctor when I went and told him what happened. He said "Wonder how I'm supposed to code , rooster attack" lol Hubby dispached Waldo as soon as he got home from work that night! ;D

Some roosters are also really really rough in their breeding and can do real injury to your hens, from no feathers on their back, to serious bloody wounds on the back of their heads. We had one hen whos back was laid wide open by the rooster's spurs..........

I have another rooster now as well as two banty roosters. However, all three of my roosters were hatched out with a broody hen, therefore do not equate me with food and are afraid enough of me to stay away. So far........I haven't been attacked. We'll see what happens this spring when the "juices" get flowing...........that is usually when you start to have problems.

[bee_pipes]

Maybe that's all it comes down to - an opinion or an emotional druther. We have room, and I like having a rooster or two around. We also have a bearded silkie. She lays little eggs, and as a practical meat or egg bird she isn't worth a hoot. She is entertaining. If you were living in a suburban tract-type home, you probably couldn't get away with a rooster. I like hearing the rooster in the morning. I like hearing him during the day, it calls attention to where the bulk of the chickens are. I don't know that they do much - surplus roosters go in the freezer.

You have listed very practical reasons why keeping a rooster is not necessary or even desirable. I agree with all of them. We just have a rooster because we like having one.

Regards,
Pat

[goodwifefarm]

Hi beepipes! I have my little banty group, two roosters and 5 hens. They've all been hatched out by my regular sized hens and I love them. I'm ordering silkies this spring from Murray McMurray! I love them! Tried to find fertile silkie eggs to put under a broody hen, but couldn't find any. Just had to say how nice that you have a silkie! ;D

[fancyfowl]

The hens are better off without a rooster around, unless you want fertile eggs. I cant imagine having chickens with no cocks a crowing but I am a breeder, so, they are indispensible.

My wife kept Silkies for many years, kind of neat little things. They are great for setting, we used them to hatch out the other breeds and pheasants. They'll try to hatch rocks.

[bee_pipes]

Gotta agree with FancyFowl - our silkie went broody and would sit on a pile of small rocks she had gathered into a depression in the ground. She is an amusing little critter. We had to give her a haircut last year - trim the fluff from around th eeyes - the poor thing couldn't see.

Don't know where you live GoodWifeFarm. We have a local breeder here in middle Tennessee. The silkie doesn't eat much, she more than repays for the little feed she eats with her antics. We originally had a pair. One passed from some sort of sickness. When we first released them to the flock, the rest of the chickens wanted nothing to do with them. I think they thought they were some sort of rodent. With the way they hop while they walk - would scare the older chickens away. They had it made for a couple of weeks - no lines or crowds to deal with at waterers or feeders.

Regards,
Pat

[goodwifefarm]

Hi Pat, I'm in southern IL, about 40 minutes from St. Louis. I've got a full sized hen right now that is sitting on 3 juvenile banties. They aren't even her clutch, they were hatched out by another hen, then when they got big enough that they didn't need sitting on anymore, she went back to roosting. This red hen has "adopted" them. It is hilarious to watch her trying to sit on all of them! She takes them with her to scratch around, clucks to call them over when she's found something.......very very funny how much some hens want to be mothers!

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I like having a rooster in with the hens. They add character. My roosters seem to like to crow at 3am, which is fine. I do try to keep any roosters separate (running free) that don't get alone with any others. Once in a while you get a bossy rooster that just needs to live with the guineas for everyone to be happy or else go in a stew pot. If you have a tiny number of hens, I wouldn't have more than one rooster, but with several dozen chickens you can support a couple more.

[otterbob]

Put him in the soup pot !

There are always toooooo many roosters, anyone hatching chickens will give you one if you ever need one.

As mentioned above hens lay better without the harassment of roosters. especially with a small amount of hens.

Otter Bob

[bookwormom]

husband raised a frying pen sp[ecial of roosters, all kinds, and they were so pretty he kept two too many. the hens suffered, bare backs, constantly being hopped on by some horny rooster,and they fought among themselves. At home we never had more than one rooster and it was considered beneficial to have one with your flock. he supposedly keeps the flock together, and you get babies.
I finally put my foot down and we kept one rooster, the buff Orpington. The hens' backs have healed up nicely and are feathered out, things are the way they should be, the rooster is roostering around, I like to hear him crow and come spring I hope a few of the hens will set and hatch a clutch of eggs for me. This is how it was at home. We never bought chicks when I was a kid, or a gosling.

[walls0stone]

Roos are like kittens, to many of them around to keep one. if you want one, you can find one.. eat him.

[harvester]

your hens will not produce better or worse due to the presence of a rooster. They will only produce what their bodies tell them to produce, its biology, not psychology. if you only want eggs to eat, you dont need a rooster. a rooster fertilizing an egg has no impact on the flavor or quality of that egg, that is determined only by breed of chicken and feed quality and type. A rooster will only growl if it sees a stray bird fly over head. do you really think a rooster is going to fight off the neighbors labrador, saving your hens? If you like the sound of roosters crowing, then great, or if you want fertilized eggs to hatch, then great. Otherwise a rooster is a waste of time and effort and you are right, you would be feeding the mouth of a nonproducer when a good laying hen could be taking his place.