Will roosters help protect my flock?

18 years ago

When I ordered my layers (New Hampshire Reds) I didn't order any cockerels because from what I read, the roos were really agressive. Now that my little hens are 5 weeks old, I can't keep them in their fenced enclosure. We moved the hoop house and gave them a whole new femced enclosure thinking they would stay in since it was all new and fresh. Well, they stayed in it for about an hour!!! (This is not a small enclosure -- it is about 100 sq. ft.)

They simply don't want to be fenced in. They are good about going into their hoop house at night, so I don't worry about the night-time predators. So far, there haven't been any day-time ones, but the feral cats are sure watching them. With my next order of 200 Cornish X meat chicks, I have ordered 4 Barred Rock cockerels. Do you think once these little guys are mature, they will somewhat protect the hens? I'm thinking we might as well just take the fence down.

Comments (8)

velvet_sparrow
18 years ago
That's what roos are for, to protect the hens. They do an OK job, but Barred Rocks are known to be laid back and sweet (mine was a total sweetie). I think that breed is wonderful. :)

Usually feral cats aren't a problem unless there are chicks--adult chickens are too big for them to take on. At 5 weeks your birds are still very much on the menu. I wouldn't let them roam full-time until they were at least 2 months old. Youngster chicks are very adventurous and love to explore. I'd think the roos will work once they are adults, but any time you let your birds free range you have to be willing to accept a partial or complete massacre by predators--around here I worry about hawks and possums more than feral cats, although we frequently have cats show up in the back yard.

My Barred Rock roo once successfully fought a Red Tailed hawk off of one of my buff cochin bantam hens--all this while I was standing not more than 6 or 7 yards away! His courage and instant action was amazing.

Velvet ~:>
sumac
18 years ago
4 Roosters sounds like alot to me. how many hens do you have?
We have 6-8 ft high fencing around our pen. otherwise they just fly out as they love to free range. We leave them in their pen all day and let them out to free range late afternoon. That way the eggs get laid in the nestboxes and the landscaping dosen't get all dug up. I'm not a big fan of roosters. More often than not they seem to disrupt and stress a flock more than protect them. I don't know how many girls you have but four roos seems like alot.
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Roberta_z5
Original Author
18 years ago
I have 38 hens. The reason I ordered four of them was so I could decide which three I want to keep once they are mature.
Miss_Kitty
17 years ago
I have 1 roo and 4 hens. The girls are pretty beaten up by all his "attention". His favorite has no feathers on her back at all. He's a Rhode Island Red and absolutely gorgous, but I wouldn't have another roo if something happened to him.
chick_mom
17 years ago
I have had a rooster free flock for two years. I bought 6 production red pullets and yep, one was a clinker. He is so funny that I am thinking of keeping him. My older hens look at him as if he was from outer space. I have wondered if a Rooster would be a hindrance or a asset.
I have a friend with a mixed flock who would take him if I decide to remove him. So far he spends his time escorting the little girls around and seem to keep them together.
Does it make a noticable difference in the eggs??
Thanks, Kit
velvet_sparrow
17 years ago
You know, having a roo or not having one doesn't really make a difference in the quality or quantity of the eggs--the girls will lay whether he is there is not--but I've found having a roo around (as long as he is sweet to his girls AND to you) makes for a happier, more complete flock. More of a family unit, so to speak.

My hens are definetely better off with a roo than without, but I chose breeds known for their laid-back, sweet characteristics--a Barred Rock was my first, and his son, a Barred Rock/Americaunas mix, now rules the roost, along with a MilleFleur mix bantam roo . If I had a mean roo I'd get rid of him or make soup. :)

Roos are great for comic relief, too. :)

Velvet ~:>
chick_mom
17 years ago
Thanks Velvet! When I got home with the chicks I looked the breed up on the internet and they said that Production Reds were nasty in cages. Mine are in their coop most of the day and I let them out to freerange in the afternoon, I think they will be ok.. If the roo stays as sweet as he is now he will be a part of the flock.. I agree with the need to cull any that are aggressive.. Thanks again, Kit
chicken_ingenue
17 years ago
The meanest I have heard of are Wild Game roos My brother in law said he had some that hatched out with other breeds of roos and if he left them alone at night in the morning the smaller game roo would have the other bigger more laid back breed killed, literally! my rhode island red was absolutely gorgous but he just tore up my hen so bad. he wasn't sensitive to her feminine needs LOL and opened her back right up. we had to send him away.

but I was thinking a game roo might help with your cat problem.

we have people around here that breed them and I just know they are selling them for fighting. but its not against the law to breed and sell them just to fight them if you get caught.

CI

Will roosters help protect my flock?

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velvet_sparrow

sumac

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Will roosters help protect my flock?

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velvet_sparrow

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