All My Roosters

[Beekissed]

Bee, I think I detect a soft center to your homesteading heart! I presumed your mantra was "If it's not useful, eat it!" and here your are, pointing out that it's possible to keep a bunch of roosters together as pets. (Of course, even a worthless rooster can produce fertilizer, so he is not totally useless, I suppose)

Ah...but you see, what's good for me might not appeal to the pet crowd, so I tempered my reply with that in mind. Gettin' better, huh?

True, a single rooster is a breeder and flock master. An extra may be useful for breeding and sharing flock master duties in a flock large enough. Anything beyond that is just extra trouble and meat to be eaten. That is indeed my mantra...but you folks like to make pets out of food, so I try to be helpful.

 

[Cindy Purvis]

It's been a while since I have had Buff Orpingtons. They are one of my favorite birds. Perhaps I just don't remember. I thought the roos were much more robust in size. Any vocalizing yet?

I have only "seen" one crow - they are in a coop with the other 3 I purchased at the same time - and I know two of those are roos. Early morn when they all start I can't see which ones are making all the racket, LOL.

 

[Cindy Purvis]

Watch those feathers.
I've had EVERY other 'sure fire way to tell' lie, but the feathers never do.
A roo's tail feathers will curl, or droop downward. A hen's will stand up nice and straight.
A roo will grow long feathers around his neck, like a lion's mane. A hen will have layers of short ones on her neck. (the pointy neck feather thing doesn't work for me either - half of my hens have pointy 'hackle' feathers...)

Thanks - I have been looking at all of the "signs" - I have an ameracauna and an easter egger (that's what I was told he was) that both have very distinct signs - AND I have witnessed them crow. But the buffs are hard to tell - one day I think they are all roos and the next I'm not sure - oh well, a bit more time will tell.

 

[Cindy Purvis]

If I lived nearby I'd take those boys off your hands! A pressure canner and a Mason jar makes all chicken created equal when it comes to tenderness. Good soup, stir fry, casserole, pot pie, etc.

So....what ya gonna do? If just a bachelor group without any hens nearby they could live well together as a flock, depending upon their nature. Lots of crowing, no eggs, but still pets.

Well my intention was to have ALL hens just for eggs. Even though I am attached to these guys I'm going to have to let them go - one way or the other! I still want my hens. I have enough space to keep several coops - we have 7 acres, so I would love to keep my ameracauna and one buff orp and then get hens for each of them...do you know if that works? If they are in separate areas - but can still see each other, will they be ok?

 

[Just-Moxie]

Too bad I can't come and get your Ameracauna rooster. I just lost my EE rooster in August, and am looking for a replacement. He was my prize breeder rooster. Had blue egg genes, and had sired 3 hens that lay blue eggs.

 

[Just-Moxie]

I had 4 grown roosters on our 1 acre. I had to keep some of them separated though. But they pretty much knew who would win, and who would lose if they got into a fight. So, I could let so and so out with a different so and so.

 

[Cindy Purvis]

Ah...but you see, what's good for me might not appeal to the pet crowd, so I tempered my reply with that in mind. Gettin' better, huh?

True, a single rooster is a breeder and flock master. An extra may be useful for breeding and sharing flock master duties in a flock large enough. Anything beyond that is just extra trouble and meat to be eaten. That is indeed my mantra...but you folks like to make pets out of food, so I try to be helpful.

Well Said . I am not opposed to the food aspect - we are avid lovers of venison which my hubby brings home, cleans and processes. But being a "country girl" of only a few months now, and of a soft-hearted nature, I am trying to decide if it's worth it to me to grow my food or just give away what I don't want. I would love to hear what your "process" is, I don't have a clue how to do it - and I would much rather have the advice of a pro than to just read about it.

 

[Cindy Purvis]

Too bad I can't come and get your Ameracauna rooster. I just lost my EE rooster in August, and am looking for a replacement. He was my prize breeder rooster. Had blue egg genes, and had sired 3 hens that lay blue eggs.

I am just over the SC border - so we might just be close enough. Email me at cpurvis@ec.rr.com.

 

[Just-Moxie]

I am just over the SC border - so we might just be close enough. Email me at cpurvis@ec.rr.com.

Ok....check your inbox

 

[catjac1975]

Thanks - I have been looking at all of the "signs" - I have an ameracauna and an easter egger (that's what I was told he was) that both have very distinct signs - AND I have witnessed them crow. But the buffs are hard to tell - one day I think they are all roos and the next I'm not sure - oh well, a bit more time will tell.

Are you saying you may have bought ALL ROOS?