Rooster in the henhouse?

I think I know the answer already. I bought 4 hens but she said sometimes they make a mistake. Do I have to keep him locked up when they get older?

Not unless he turns mean or is too hard on them. The eggs will be fertile, but that doesn't matter unless you let them start to incubate them. Some people prefer fertile eggs.

No you don't have to remove him. But you can if you just don't want him around the hens most roosters are harmless and your eggs will be fertile if you leave him with them.

Whoa! cat i think we were typeing and thinkin the same thing at the same time lol

Your roo will also make a nice bodygaurd for your hens against preditors, or sacrifice himself. I heard about a roo in our town who makes a sport of grabbing hawks as they come after his hens, beats them to a bloody pulp.

wow I like that bodyguard part. Thanks

wormfood hope you've got a nice roo. We had 10 of them till recently and their behavior varied just like that of people. One roo was so vicious on the hens that he ripped the back of a hen's head. Another chased the ducks and geese to mate with them. He scared the willies out of my hens too. Some were bullies towards the hens and some were bullies only towards the other roos. A couple thought they could bully me! Two were actually nice.
My girls (there are ten of them) all look way happier now that the roos are gone! Also they're now able to be friendly with me. Before if a roo saw them being nice to me it would chase them away from me.

MollyD

Wow, bad Roo experiance. Ive kept chickens for over 40 years and never had such bad luck. although I always stick to gramas rule one Roo to nine Hens. My girls enjoy thier Roos, follow him around and such. I am always surprised when I hear of Roo trouble. Maybe we just have better luck becouse ours are "free range". One Roo per 1/2 acre.

that could be fereal

mollyd

I didn't mean to appear insensitive, those WERE some bad Roos. Terrible luck.
Im just particularly fond of roos, I think of them as little Dudley Dorights rushing to the rescue of there damsles in distress, and we know hens! those boys are allways rushing to the rescue.

I see that also fereal, all the roos here they take up for the girls and the chicks. I think I am having a better life span out of the chickens now that there are alot of roos here.

Anyone have goats? check out my new thread. I am desperate!

If you love plants, don't have a goat. That's all I know.

Thank you Wormfood,
I plan on putting in another 1/2 acre paddock using welded wire pipe fencing. This is what we use for our horse and chicken paddocks. As I garden too Im hoping the 6 foot hight will keep them in. Ill know more soon Im reading like mad.

fereal we"ve got nine goats>
three bucklings who are almost bucks now
a wether
five does

mollyd

all are boers as in meat goats

edited to say that as of October it's now 10 goats!

This message was edited Oct 5, 2008 6:07 PM

I just thought of a milk goat. I can pen her up and get milk and not have to pay those store prices. And we try to get the organic and it's over 5 bucks for a gallon. Does goat milk taste very different? I think I'll do some reading too.

Yes, it tastes a little different.. But not in a bad way, IMO.. Some people say they can't tell the difference..

Thank you, do you have goats? Do you know if they can take the heat? I'll have to read up on them when I get some time.

I'm in the process of getting goats.. Most goats can take the heat fine.. They just need a shady place where they can get out of the sun and rain.. Goats hate to get wet.. Some goats like the angora and other fiber breeds, don't fair well in Florida though..

Shade is especially important since goats can get skin cancer in areas such as under their tails. Male goats can become sterile if they get too much sunshine. Don't forget to have very clean fresh water for them at all times. Especially important in your climate!

MollyD

I have a nice cool place for it but she would be all alone. And fenced in. Doesn't seem fair. How much milk does one put out? Maybe I should just go check with a neighbor. They have a small farm up the hill, maybe they have some goats and will sell me some milk at a decent price.

Sounds like a good idea wormfood. Goats don't do well alone. They get very depressed. Nature intended for them to be part of a herd.

MollyD

I'm normally obsessive/compulsive. Sometimes I surprise myself.

I'm not sure what I am aside from comfortable in my own skin!

MollyD