Getting rid of my rooster (guilt)

[McChooky]

Chicks raised in a flock by a broody and older hens with a mature rooster are taught to respect the hierarchy of the flock and respect boundaries. Roosters don't reach their full potential until they're 1-2

 

[McChooky]

If he spurred your toddler you wouldn't be feeling a lick of guilt over seeing him off. He's had a good life, better than most roosters would, and he's had his chances, but it sounds like he's made things stressful for you and the flock, so off he goes.

Exactly!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

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.

No prob. Not sure why you'd apologize, aside from just being polite?

Anything can definitely learn (good and bad habits/manners) from others, especially of their species.
I just don't think anything is guaranteed to go bad from lack of guidance, or guaranteed to be good with even good guidance.

But a bad bird will have a poor effect on the flock, of course.

Just haven't had that problem for some reason? Which is a great thing to not have to deal with.
But I can't say -why- it's been that way. Because no idea.

 

[atomic]

I couldn’t eat any of my sweet girls as some do after their laying dies off, but a mean bird? Different story. Not chickens but I had a Rouen drake years ago that was so rough with my ducks that my favorite little magpies started limping. That sent fury into my heart that made it not only easy, but immediate decision to get rid of him. Any bird or otherwise animal I have that I tend to and turns on me is not lasting. I am a very dedicated and gentle caretaker, so for one to be as so towards me is completely unwarranted. I don’t have children but again I’ll be damned if a chicken is going to treat me with such adamant disrespect.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

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

We did have several flocks that you would have called "first generation", then.

Various years, we didn't have any birds.
Then, newly hatched chicks would be purchased from the store.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

No prob. Not sure why you'd apologize, aside from just being polite?

Anything can definitely learn (good and bad habits/manners) from others, especially of their species.
I just don't think anything is guaranteed to go bad from lack of guidance, or guaranteed to be good with even good guidance.

But a bad bird will have a poor effect on the flock, of course.

Just haven't had that problem for some reason? Which is a great thing to not have to deal with.
But I can't say -why- it's been that way. Because no idea.

Another perfectly good and believable explanation: you said you’d grown up with chickens, hundreds over the years. I’m guessing that you treat cockerels and roosters more sensibly (= respecting their space and requiring the same in return.) At any rate, it’s wonderful to hear success stories!

 

[Chicken Tender58]

Hello all,

I have had my 3 year old Starlight Green Egger since he was a chick with my first flock. He has just had 6 chicks and at least 1 is a 3 month old Roo.

The elder hasn't settled down at all. He has spurred me 3 times and comes after me every day so I have to arm myself with a stick or something to push him back.
He seems great with the girls most of the time but 3 of them are showing signs of overmating and I can tell they are stressed out.

I haven't had the courage to try and assert dominance over him. I have a 15 month old who wants to go outside and I feel like I am out of options because I don't want the rooster to run our backyard anymore.

Is it irrational to give him away? The person interested will eat him. He has had a great life. He has free ranged for 3 years, he has 7 hens, 6 pullets, and now 6 babies.

What are your thoughts? And thank you in advance!

We just got rid of our roo yesterday, he was already challenging us when we went in the coop. He was only 4mos. but we won't have a roo trying to spur us at all. Besides we aren't going to be hatching chicks anyway.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Another perfectly good and believable explanation: you said you’d grown up with chickens, hundreds over the years. I’m guessing that you treat cockerels and roosters more sensibly (= respecting their space and requiring the same in return.) At any rate, it’s wonderful to hear success stories!

I dunno. We just lucked out with good birds?

We don't treat them as pets, though.
Only handle as needed.
Free range as much as possible.
They know I open the gate and deliver food and that I'm not planning on hurting them.

 

[FrostRanger]

I dunno. We just lucked out with good birds?

We don't treat them as pets, though.
Only handle as needed.
Free range as much as possible.
They know I open the gate and deliver food and that I'm not planning on hurting them.

That can go a long way with getting nice birds

There is definitely an element of luck though and you were fortunate enough to get nice roos

 

[McChooky]

Another perfectly good and believable explanation: you said you’d grown up with chickens, hundreds over the years. I’m guessing that you treat cockerels and roosters more sensibly (= respecting their space and requiring the same in return.) At any rate, it’s wonderful to hear success stories!

My dad kept chickens 30 years and raised his own . I raise mine a lot like him. I added 2 cockerels in a flock of 8 hens with 12 pullets the same age when I decided to add a rooster.They weren't an accident and I ordered the breed I got.I think it makes a difference if you wait a while before getting a rooster.Hen only flocks are close to perfect!