Help me choose which rooster to keep!

3KillerBs said:

To repeat a question I've seen many times here,

What are your goals for having a rooster?

Which of your goals do each of these roosters meet? Which do they fail at?

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ChickyWhicky said:

Keeping a roo for flock protection. I figured a roo would help with predators. Only time I would hatch chicks is if I needed more birds, I have them for eggs. No fancy operations here.
With that in mind, Canelo seems to fit what I am looking for, as far as getting the job done.

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ChickyWhicky said:

I will need to get rid of rooster(s) before too long. I currently have 3 roosters and 15 hens, everybody is about 5 months old. Help me choose which roo to keep!

Mayweather
Australorp
Not shown any human-aggression (not mean but not willing to be your friend)
Breeds the hens, a little rough for my liking but nothing out-of-line
Doesn't show strong desire to protect or take care of flock, mostly does his own thing
Wants to fight/chase one of the other roos
Ugly-ish (not a criteria to make a decision on, just letting you know )

Canelo
Rhode island red
Shown human-aggression once but has since become relatively friendly (always hanging out with me, wanting to follow/be near me but not in a menacing way)
Does not breed the hens
Shows desire to protect and take care of flock, chases off birds/cats/dogs & will call the flock over/share snacks
Doesnt want to fight/chase, will run away/avoid conflict with other roo
Has basically been exiled to hang out by himself (or with me) because Mayweather wants to knock his socks off
Handsome (again, not a criteria I am basing decisions on)

McGregor
Little red roo (maybe a production red?)
Smallest of the roos
Not shown any human aggression
Does not breed the hens
Doesnt show desire to protect or take care of flock, 100% a follower
Does not fight/chase the other roos
Hang out with the other roos with zero problems....is this even a roo? JK- Yes, I am nearly positive he is
Not my favorite guy, sorry dude (he's at the bottom of my list)
Can I keep this guy forever, if he continues to get along with the other roos? Why or why not?

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ChickyWhicky said:

I will need to get rid of rooster(s) before too long. I currently have 3 roosters and 15 hens, everybody is about 5 months old. Help me choose which roo to keep!

Mayweather
Australorp
Not shown any human-aggression (not mean but not willing to be your friend)
Breeds the hens, a little rough for my liking but nothing out-of-line
Doesn't show strong desire to protect or take care of flock, mostly does his own thing
Wants to fight/chase one of the other roos
Ugly-ish (not a criteria to make a decision on, just letting you know )

Canelo
Rhode island red
Shown human-aggression once but has since become relatively friendly (always hanging out with me, wanting to follow/be near me but not in a menacing way)
Does not breed the hens
Shows desire to protect and take care of flock, chases off birds/cats/dogs & will call the flock over/share snacks
Doesnt want to fight/chase, will run away/avoid conflict with other roo
Has basically been exiled to hang out by himself (or with me) because Mayweather wants to knock his socks off
Handsome (again, not a criteria I am basing decisions on)

McGregor
Little red roo (maybe a production red?)
Smallest of the roos
Not shown any human aggression
Does not breed the hens
Doesnt show desire to protect or take care of flock, 100% a follower
Does not fight/chase the other roos
Hang out with the other roos with zero problems....is this even a roo? JK- Yes, I am nearly positive he is
Not my favorite guy, sorry dude (he's at the bottom of my list)
Can I keep this guy forever, if he continues to get along with the other roos? Why or why not?

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Mrs. K said:

It is not a one and done deal, because often times, you remove a cockerel, it changes how the rest get along. Pull two out, put them in a crate of something, and then watch the one you left, see how the pullets act. Might make the decision, might change the decision.

Also know there is a real possibility that none of these roosters will work out. I am a believer in flock protection with a rooster and day time predators, but not until the rooster is 1 year old.

Personally, I am not quite sold on any of these, but time will tell. I would cull all of them and look around in my community for an old rooster, that was so darn nice, he did not get culled. I think the maybe you are not either, that is why you can't make a decision?

Mrs K

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Chicken poppy said:

Oh McGregor! He sounds so pathetically adorable and i love him.

Unfortunately, he sounds like a bad decision to keep. But im in love! He sounds like such a pitiful little thing!

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