Getting rid of my rooster (guilt)

[Mother of Chaos]

Thanks all, it helps to get clarity on this situation. I am in the best by giving him up to the 1 person who wants him, she is aware that he is aggressive and is willing to eat him.

I remember, one day at work long ago before I ever thought of having chickens, a co-worker told me that one of her roosters had gone after her 10-year-old daughter. And so she grabbed an axe and ended things right then and there.

I just sort of gaped at her! I didn't say anything about that's awful or I understand, but I learned something that day about the realities of having critters, especially those who are so very different from us.

I'm kind of grateful that as a city dweller, I'm not allowed a rooster, and just a limited number of chickens overall, so I just buy 6-8 week old pullets and dodge all the anguish (and joy!) of having a true flock of chickens, Mom(s), Dad(s), and eleventy-billion chicks. I have the greatest respect for those who do this.

 

[Sinadrea]

I remember, one day at work long ago before I ever thought of having chickens, a co-worker told me that one of her roosters had gone after her 10-year-old daughter. And so she grabbed an axe and ended things right then and there.

I just sort of gaped at her! I didn't say anything about that's awful or I understand, but I learned something that day about the realities of having critters, especially those who are so very different from us.

I'm kind of grateful that as a city dweller, I'm not allowed a rooster, and just a limited number of chickens overall, so I just buy 6-8 week old pullets and dodge all the anguish (and joy!) of having a true flock of chickens, Mom(s), Dad(s), and eleventy-billion chicks. I have the greatest respect for those who do this.

Yeah, I respect people who do this as well. It doesn't seem easy to do. I never got the rooster on purpose, he was supposed to be my green egger hen and it was a whole adventure learning about roosters. I don't even know how a nice one would compare to him but I'm sure it would be a lot less stressful.

 

[My1stChickens]

One of my first day old pullets grew up to be a BIG EE roo. He was always distant, but as he matured became hostile. I had to carry a stick to go in the run after he drew blood on my legs. One of my hens hatched 3 eggs-- all roos and all aggressive at a very young age. I struggled a lot, but I found someone who could humanely dispatch him, and wanted to make bone broth from a chicken who was fed all organic. I cried, but I sent all 4 away. The hens were SO relieved and relaxed and happy. And I was also relieved, albeit with a tinge of regret that took time to fade.

This year I got babies again and this week my favorite pullets started crowing. I'm pretty confident the other 4 will remain pullets. I'm going to try to leverage the roo's friendly nature and hope he does not turn mean, because I'd dread that. Right now he likes to come over, be picked up and sit on my lap.

It's hard for those of us who see them as pets that lay eggs and are not spared the feelings.

 

[Sinadrea]

One of my first day old pullets grew up to be a BIG EE roo. He was always distant, but as he matured became hostile. I had to carry a stick to go in the run after he drew blood on my legs. One of my hens hatched 3 eggs-- all roos and all aggressive at a very young age. I struggled a lot, but I found someone who could humanely dispatch him, and wanted to make bone broth from a chicken who was fed all organic. I cried, but I sent all 4 away. The hens were SO relieved and relaxed and happy. And I was also relieved, albeit with a tinge of regret that took time to fade.

This year I got babies again and this week my favorite pullets started crowing. I'm pretty confident the other 4 will remain pullets. I'm going to try to leverage the roo's friendly nature and hope he does not turn mean, because I'd dread that. Right now he likes to come over, be picked up and sit on my lap.

It's hard for those of us who see them as pets that lay eggs and are not spared the feelings.

Thank you for sharing. I'm in a similar boat with the 1st roo. Now I've hatched a few of his babies so I'm waiting to see how they turn out. So far the 12 week old lets me pet him in the coop but not grab or hold him when he's out and about.
I'm feeling better about my decision of giving him away. I want to spend time with my daughter in our backyard without having to worry about her being hurt.
We will see if the person who is interested still wants the roo this weekend.

 

[McChooky]

I remember, one day at work long ago before I ever thought of having chickens, a co-worker told me that one of her roosters had gone after her 10-year-old daughter. And so she grabbed an axe and ended things right then and there.

I just sort of gaped at her! I didn't say anything about that's awful or I understand, but I learned something that day about the realities of having critters, especially those who are so very different from us.

I'm kind of grateful that as a city dweller, I'm not allowed a rooster, and just a limited number of chickens overall, so I just buy 6-8 week old pullets and dodge all the anguish (and joy!) of having a true flock of chickens, Mom(s), Dad(s), and eleventy-billion chicks. I have the greatest respect for those who do this.

The odds of raising a good one is iffy (maybe 50/50) All my hens like my rooster except my hen only flock(they don't want another boss)but none of them have gone broody

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

The odds of raising a good one is iffy (maybe 50/50) All my hens like my rooster except my hen only flock(they don't want another boss)but none of them have gone broody

I dunno if "50/50" is very accurate, in my experience.
grew up with hundreds of chickens through the years, dozens of which ended up being cockerels that were kept to grow into roosters here (not at the same time. But did have several at once, that all got along)
Literally 1 bird became human aggressive, after some horrible people harassed the birds so he felt he had to protect the flock (which is when he had to be dispatched)

I personally can't understand how a rooster goes bad simply because all of ours have been good (various breeds, sizes, store/hatchery, or barnyard mix hatched here)
But I do know that an aggressive chicken is not something I'd want to be around.
Fingers crossed my cockerel keeps being good.

 

[McChooky]

I dunno if "50/50" is very accurate, in my experience.
grew up with hundreds of chickens through the years, dozens of which ended up being cockerels that were kept to grow into roosters here (not at the same time. But did have several at once, that all got along)
Literally 1 bird became human aggressive, after some horrible people harassed the birds so he felt he had to protect the flock (which is when he had to be dispatched)

I personally can't understand how a rooster goes bad simply because all of ours have been good (various breeds, sizes, store/hatchery, or barnyard mix hatched here)
But I do know that an aggressive chicken is not something I'd want to be around.
Fingers crossed my cockerel keeps being good.

1st generation chicks don't have an older flock to observe and learn or mimic. They learn everything by trial and error so many fail

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

1st generation chicks don't have an older flock to observe and learn or mimic. They learn everything by trial and error so many fail

? I'm not sure what you mean by "1st generation" ?

There have been multiple times where the chickens we've had were purchased from a store, (so, shipped from hatchery.) And they were not incorporated with an existing flock. (If we even had an existing flock, they were separated until about laying age. Whether we hatched them, or they were from a hatchery.)

Several times we didn't have any birds at all to introduce them to. So zero adult chickens.

Is that what you mean by "first generation" ?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

1st generation chicks don't have an older flock to observe and learn or mimic. They learn everything by trial and error so many fail

From what I’ve read here, it does seem that having and older rooster and/or mature hens around to teach the cockerels some sense makes a huge difference.

Sorry @Not-so Slick Chicken, we overlapped our posts.

 

[McChooky]

? I'm not sure what you mean by "1st generation" ?

There have been multiple times where the chickens we've had were purchased from a store, (so, shipped from hatchery.) And they were not incorporated with an existing flock. (If we even had an existing flock, they were separated until about laying age. Whether we hatched them, or they were from a hatchery.)

Several times we didn't have any birds at all to introduce them to. So zero adult chickens.

Is that what you mean by "first generation" ?

Orphan chicks without a broody hen or flock . If you already have have a flock they aren't 1st generation chicks