It's amazing to me how a person (meaning me) has to learn a lesson twice to really learn a lesson. Back in February, my flock of hens welcomed a 14 week old Barred Rock rooster that I had picked up a couple hours away. I wanted a Barred Rock because I had plans to change to Buff Orpingtons for meat production, wanted some variation, but did not want to bring the weight of offspring down.
And they sure did welcome him! The hens LOVED this rooster, and he protected them vigilantly. By the time he was 20 weeks, however, he was getting a little confused about what he was protecting these hens FROM. He chased my small children, attacked me when my back was turned and even went after my husband (who usually had nothing to do with the care of the flock). This wasn't just boundary testing or protecting his flock, he chased me all the way around the house, and the hens were not even in sight anymore! Three weeks later, he was in the crockpot. He was delicious!
Meanwhile, I had gotten another Barred Rock rooster chick from the hatchery. I was going to need two, since I had almost 40 hens, pullets and chicks by then. After the early demise of the first BR, my husband said about the chick, "I don't know, hon...what if he's like the last one?" But my philosophy was, why worry about it until it happens? I had to handle this chick for three weeks, due to pasty butt, and he did not appear to be scared of me like the other chicks (I don't keep chickens as pets, only livestock). I wasn't sure if this would turn out to be a bad thing or a good thing.
I researched why BR were mean (in my very limited experience). I read that handling could make them nice, or mean (well, that helps). I got lots of pointers off BYC about what to do if my rooster turned mean. I was ready. And, sure enough, it happened. At about 15 weeks, the rooster chased the kids. So I read some more. I told them, "Go after him, let him know you are above him in the pecking order, and he won't do it again". I couldn't just keep killing roosters because my kids couldn't handle teaching them a lesson! It took weeks, but they finally learned to carry sticks with them to the coop and around the yard. If he made them nervous, they shooed him with the sticks. He settled down a little. Then he chased me. I kicked him, ran after him, and yelled at him. And kept food away from him, allowing the rest of my flock to eat while keeping him away, then finally allowing him to come eat with us. He left me alone after that.
A week ago, my 8 yr old comes in the house. "Mom, you need to check on the rooster!" Why, I said. "Because I beat him with a stick, and he's lying on the ground! I think he's dead!" A look out the window told me he was back on his feet, but pretty much still in shock. He had jumped up on my 8 yr old and scratched his cheek. My son did exactly what I had told him to do, and hit him over the head with the stick several times, then ran away. He hates it when the animals are hurt, so it was not what he wanted to do, but he knew he had to. Okay, I thought. The rooster has surely learned his lesson with that son, hopefully he will realize both kids aren't to be messed with.
Nope. A few days later, my 8 yr old went into the front yard, and the rooster immediately chased him. This will be his last week as a "free bird". He will be in the crockpot by the end of the weekend. I will never buy another Barred Rock rooster.
These are just ramblings. I know every chicken is different, even within the same breed. But I am looking at a 100% failure rate on using BR roosters. I can't ignore that. Lesson learned. Thanks for listening.
And they sure did welcome him! The hens LOVED this rooster, and he protected them vigilantly. By the time he was 20 weeks, however, he was getting a little confused about what he was protecting these hens FROM. He chased my small children, attacked me when my back was turned and even went after my husband (who usually had nothing to do with the care of the flock). This wasn't just boundary testing or protecting his flock, he chased me all the way around the house, and the hens were not even in sight anymore! Three weeks later, he was in the crockpot. He was delicious!
Meanwhile, I had gotten another Barred Rock rooster chick from the hatchery. I was going to need two, since I had almost 40 hens, pullets and chicks by then. After the early demise of the first BR, my husband said about the chick, "I don't know, hon...what if he's like the last one?" But my philosophy was, why worry about it until it happens? I had to handle this chick for three weeks, due to pasty butt, and he did not appear to be scared of me like the other chicks (I don't keep chickens as pets, only livestock). I wasn't sure if this would turn out to be a bad thing or a good thing.
I researched why BR were mean (in my very limited experience). I read that handling could make them nice, or mean (well, that helps). I got lots of pointers off BYC about what to do if my rooster turned mean. I was ready. And, sure enough, it happened. At about 15 weeks, the rooster chased the kids. So I read some more. I told them, "Go after him, let him know you are above him in the pecking order, and he won't do it again". I couldn't just keep killing roosters because my kids couldn't handle teaching them a lesson! It took weeks, but they finally learned to carry sticks with them to the coop and around the yard. If he made them nervous, they shooed him with the sticks. He settled down a little. Then he chased me. I kicked him, ran after him, and yelled at him. And kept food away from him, allowing the rest of my flock to eat while keeping him away, then finally allowing him to come eat with us. He left me alone after that.
A week ago, my 8 yr old comes in the house. "Mom, you need to check on the rooster!" Why, I said. "Because I beat him with a stick, and he's lying on the ground! I think he's dead!" A look out the window told me he was back on his feet, but pretty much still in shock. He had jumped up on my 8 yr old and scratched his cheek. My son did exactly what I had told him to do, and hit him over the head with the stick several times, then ran away. He hates it when the animals are hurt, so it was not what he wanted to do, but he knew he had to. Okay, I thought. The rooster has surely learned his lesson with that son, hopefully he will realize both kids aren't to be messed with.
Nope. A few days later, my 8 yr old went into the front yard, and the rooster immediately chased him. This will be his last week as a "free bird". He will be in the crockpot by the end of the weekend. I will never buy another Barred Rock rooster.
These are just ramblings. I know every chicken is different, even within the same breed. But I am looking at a 100% failure rate on using BR roosters. I can't ignore that. Lesson learned. Thanks for listening.
