To broody or not to broody (should I let my hen hatch eggs next year?)

[CrystalAnon]

So do they want you to keep the cockerels until they are six to eight months old, to determine whether they are aggressive or not, before they will accept them? Are you willing to do that? And if they do turn out aggressive, what will you do with them? It's impossible to tell as chicks whether cockerels will turn out aggressive or not.

Very true. Out of my 3 cockerels one was very aggressive, one was good & the third we ate before finding out. We didn’t enjoy that process at all, so we would not cull another roo unless it was absolutely necessary for food. The eating was the best part, and that wasn’t even great. He was quite stringy. Bone broth was the best of what we got from him.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Very true. Out of my 3 cockerels one was very aggressive, one was good & the third we ate before finding out. We didn’t enjoy that process at all, so we would not cull another roo unless it was absolutely necessary for food. The eating was the best part, and that wasn’t even great. He was quite stringy. Bone broth was the best of what we got from him.

Yeah, unfortunately that's kind of the name of the game when you hatch. If the meat is stringy I feed it to my dogs, but you're right, they do make good broth.

 

[SkyAJK]

Reading these posts make me miss my roosters so much. My old rooster talks a lot, I still have images of him talking to me and turning his head looking at me. He does not like his imagine taken or me talking on the mobile phone so he often peck at me really hard, super painful if I am talking on the phone or trying to take a photo of him.

I love having my hens hatch out eggs, it is such a beautiful sweet thing and I found that the kids are intelligent and friendlier, but here is the risk of getting a rooster. I think when next time I need to stock up I will get a bantam breed for mother hen to hatch so that if there is a rooster I might secretly keep him, hopefully just 1 rooster.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

does not like his imagine taken or me talking on the mobile phone so he often peck at me really hard, super painful if I am talking on the phone or trying to take a photo of him.

He cannot possibly know what your phone does, i.e., that you are "taking an image of him," or that you are talking to another person at the other end. There is NO excuse for any bird to attack you. Period.

 

[SkyAJK]

He cannot possibly know what your phone does, i.e., that you are "taking an image of him," or that you are talking to another person at the other end. There is NO excuse for any bird to attack you. Period.

He knows when I talk on the phone, and when I try to take a photo of him. He pecks me. With my old rooster this is when it happens so I give allowance that knowing what he does not like, don't do it in front of him so to avoid him pecking at me.

For me this is OK because he is a good sweet rooster except for this part. The world is not perfect and I am ok with this.

 

[CrystalAnon]

Reading these posts make me miss my roosters so much. My old rooster talks a lot, I still have images of him talking to me and turning his head looking at me. He does not like his imagine taken or me talking on the mobile phone so he often peck at me really hard, super painful if I am talking on the phone or trying to take a photo of him.

I love having my hens hatch out eggs, it is such a beautiful sweet thing and I found that the kids are intelligent and friendlier, but here is the risk of getting a rooster. I think when next time I need to stock up I will get a bantam breed for mother hen to hatch so that if there is a rooster I might secretly keep him, hopefully just 1 rooster.

How can you keep a rooster, secretly?
My man can’t help but let himself be known about. Luckily he has a super-melodic crow, so his crow is not annoying like some of the roosters in our neighborhood.

 

[CrystalAnon]

He knows when I talk on the phone, and when I try to take a photo of him. He pecks me. With my old rooster this is when it happens so I give allowance that knowing what he does not like, don't do it in front of him so to avoid him pecking at me.

For me this is OK because he is a good sweet rooster except for this part. The world is not perfect and I am ok with this.

I agree. There are concessions. I make sure to watch my roo and see if he’s “in a mood”. He’s mostly fabulous, but he’ll certainly test me at times. It’s a pain in the butt but it only takes a little extra time to show him you aren’t going to back down or run away. And I’m fine with that. I WANT him to be assertive & all out aggressive, when appropriate. That’s what he’s here for. His ladies are his domain, unless they’re sick or in need of medical care. Then they’re mine.
I have limits though. I had one cockerel that was way too aggressive. I didn’t feel safe going into the run or coop with him there. That’s not okay. He taught me a lot as well, so I’m thankful for having him when I did.
But your roos testing you? I think that’s normal & healthy. Even helpful!

 

[CrystalAnon]

I agree. There are concessions. I make sure to watch my roo and see if he’s “in a mood”. He’s mostly fabulous, but he’ll certainly test me at times. It’s a pain in the butt but it only takes a little extra time to show him you aren’t going to back down or run away. And I’m fine with that. I WANT him to be assertive & all out aggressive, when appropriate. That’s what he’s here for. His ladies are his domain, unless they’re sick or in need of medical care. Then they’re mine.
I have limits though. I had one cockerel that was way too aggressive. I didn’t feel safe going into the run or coop with him there. That’s not okay. He taught me a lot as well, so I’m thankful for having him when I did.
But your roos testing you? I think that’s normal & healthy.

One example: Our Roo has NEVER pecked at, attacked or gone after my husband. Not once. But my husband has a very manly, assertive way of being. My roo actually teaches me about my own state of mind. When I’m feeling happy, strong & assertive, he doesn’t even think once, let alone twice about testing me. He can see weakness in me that I don’t always feel or am able to acknowledge in myself. But he can sense it! And he challenges me in those moments. He helps keep me in check with myself!
I think this topic is fascinating.

 

[SkyAJK]

I agree. There are concessions. I make sure to watch my roo and see if he’s “in a mood”. He’s mostly fabulous, but he’ll certainly test me at times. It’s a pain in the butt but it only takes a little extra time to show him you aren’t going to back down or run away. And I’m fine with that. I WANT him to be assertive & all out aggressive, when appropriate. That’s what he’s here for. His ladies are his domain, unless they’re sick or in need of medical care. Then they’re mine.
I have limits though. I had one cockerel that was way too aggressive. I didn’t feel safe going into the run or coop with him there. That’s not okay. He taught me a lot as well, so I’m thankful for having him when I did.
But your roos testing you? I think that’s normal & healthy. Even helpful!

I don't know if my old rooster testing me or not. He is for most of the time nice, he would go up stair looking for me if I am not in the garden and he is about by himself, I let him out a few hours a day by himself away from the hens. He would sit with me or follow me while I do my garden work. We have a special bone between us, but I am careful that he is after all can be unpredictable.

 

[SkyAJK]

How can you keep a rooster, secretly?
My man can’t help but let himself be known about. Luckily he has a super-melodic crow, so his crow is not annoying like some of the roosters in our neighborhood.

I had a rooster for 7 years and he crows his mighty crows. He wore a no crow collar, but that did little to lower his voice. My neighbours were very kind.

To keep a rooster secretly, I think I would need a small rooster that does not have a mighty crow. I do miss having a rooster in my flock and rooster is such a dear.