not to brag, but I have a gold mine in my back yard...
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I really like chickens, they are beautiful hopeful bossy little creatures.
the rooster is a real jerk, but the hens a very docile.
Watch the rooster. He is the essential element to the flock. Had over 20 chickens for a few years and learned so much from watching them. The pecking order process can get so intense the hens will kill each other at times. Basically two hens fight, and if one has visible wound the others will continue pecking that wound eventually killing the wounded chicken if you don't isolate it from flock for time to heal. The rooster will prevent that for you. When I finally added a rooster he breaks up the fights and keeps order. Also protects them from predators by warning them of danger. Amazing creatures. Hours of entertainment. The kids used to throw cherry tomatoes into the pen and watch them play "chicken football". Hilarious watching them run with it then stop to eat it ony to have another one snatch it and run.
Disclaimer: at least this was what I observed. Not sure if this is the usual behavior considering I only had the one rooster. Could have just been lucky to have the little guy.
A good rooster will give his life for his hens. A good rooster, will sleep next to the door inside the coop and be the first in line in case an intruder enters. A bad rooster will hide up in the back and let the hens be taken first.
Good roosters won't go into the coop until all the hens are inside and accounted for. A bad rooster will just go in, oblivious to anyone but himself.
I usually keep 2 roosters, that are brothers, from the same batch of chicks. Otherwise, introducing 2 roosters into the same flock can cause a fight-to-the-death fight between the roosters as they fight for dominance. I like having 2 so one can be a spare, in case one is injured or dies. If they grew up together, they are less likely to fight.
My hens are broody and often have chicks, so I have plenty of roosters to choose for my flock. I choose the best roosters by observing their behavior. I look for those that cock-a-doodle-doo when they find a food source, telling the hens there is food available. A bad rooster will just try to take all the food for himself. I see how they react when there's danger nearby (cat nearing the fence, hawk in the air) do they even notice, and do they warn the others? Do they get along with the hens or are they preventing some from getting food, thus alienating/shunning them?
A rooster will have one hen that is his favorite. She will hang around him, but that may make her unlikable by the other hens. If the rooster dies, she will be left out, will probably spend the rest of her days pecking alone, may even be afraid to roost with the others in the coop.
A flock will have the matron hen, the bossy, loud one. If there's no rooster in the flock, she will act rooster-ish and may even attempt to cock-a-doodle-doo in the morning or when there's danger. She runs the roost, top of the pecking order, for sure. So a flock doesn't absolutely need a rooster, but for safety of the flock, and growth of the flock (incubated eggs), they are a treasure. Just important to have a good rooster. A mean one, well, they become dog food at our place.
This is very interesting. I especially like your observance of the good rooster and bad rooster. It's quite like watching people.
My rooster gives the hens the blueberries and food before he eats. He shows them the good food and keep everything in line. I have his son, who is out of a EE and they do not fight at all. He watches his subunits and the newer flock. The main rooster had his fave but he loves them all.
The loudest is Freya but Queenie is the boss. Freya is my starlight green egger and she’s nosey af lol. Plus she willl pull a Houdini from time to time but nowadays they all stay in their run which is a 50 x 80. That’s Hooked up to to a 10x10 fully covered pen that they roost at night.
I have one Rudy hen right now and she’s an Orpington. I took two eggs from each hen and she hatched them all so it’s very unique to see the different colors.
I have Easter Eggers, Orpington‘s, Rhode Island red, olive Eggers and a australorp. The rooster is a barred rock. The two sets that hatched are all mixed with the bard rocks with the exception of all of Eggers and the Rhode Island because they’re not ready to lay eggs yet.
His son is ad of Queenie and he looks like a Moran. He’s got beautiful green tail feathers, but his crest is like flames. I’ll post a picture.
A wealth of knowledge...thank you!
Looks like I had a good rooster. Thanks for the great information!
yep. Our Buff Orp. rooster is a huge and horny fella. the smaller chickens are loosing back feathers.
We're looking to set up a separate coup for the smaller ones and leave the Buff's to themselves. Those hens are real chonks.
Try these....https://www.google.com/search?q=red+chicken+blindres&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS875US875&oq=red+chicken+blindres&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i10i160l2.8176j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#ip=1