tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post3587922132446044359..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: A Rooster TaleFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-47039032807348043922014-12-05T20:11:55.555-06:002014-12-05T20:11:55.555-06:00Hi Karin. Very interesting thought. We have approx...Hi Karin. Very interesting thought. We have approximately 12 week old roosters in a separate pen, but in the same building as with all of our chickens. And, that is a very interesting thought, because we didn't start having problems with our main rooster until just a few weeks ago. But he is now gone. Next time we have young roosters growing up, I will see if it happens again then. Thank you for the thought, I will pay more attention.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-526025504052797862014-12-05T18:35:52.264-06:002014-12-05T18:35:52.264-06:00We had a Rhode Island rooster that had been good a...We had a Rhode Island rooster that had been good at guarding the girls (our hens are free range part of the day) and fertilizing the eggs, who became a lot more aggressive to any people who went out near the chickens. After several attacks, we decided to put him in the freezer with a crop of young males, but due to circumstances at the time, we ended up not killing him off. Interestingly, once we processed the group of young males, he settled right back down, making me wonder if all that competition got his testosterone up. Have you ever had an experience like that?Karinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-53285288243647365092014-12-03T15:54:24.009-06:002014-12-03T15:54:24.009-06:00Well, SFG, we may not let it slide much longer. I ...Well, SFG, we may not let it slide much longer. I think he has tried his last flogging. Time will tell. Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-15063069857824184692014-12-02T11:00:05.382-06:002014-12-02T11:00:05.382-06:00I was laughing at this too. I have been there and...I was laughing at this too. I have been there and I know how it feels to get flogged by a rooster. But like you, if he is just doing his job, I'll let it slide. lolsmall farm girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485314092236803411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-18577769082485406262014-12-01T19:27:14.186-06:002014-12-01T19:27:14.186-06:00It's just the nature of the beast, Nancy. This...It's just the nature of the beast, Nancy. This rooster we have is a nice big bird. I hope he is able to stick around for a while. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-91580346318869329602014-12-01T19:14:50.129-06:002014-12-01T19:14:50.129-06:00I agree, Ivy Mae, the flock does do better with a ...I agree, Ivy Mae, the flock does do better with a rooster around. Frank and I were talking yesterday and the first rooster to flog me that Frank took care of was a Barred Rock, too. You just never know which ones will work out and which ones won't. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-63288608814014612972014-12-01T15:43:24.839-06:002014-12-01T15:43:24.839-06:00I like to keep a rooster with my flock too. And ha...I like to keep a rooster with my flock too. And have had maybe one or two I would liked to have lived longer. The rest either caused their own death by harassing me or one of my grandkids :) NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-68813986540627096942014-12-01T05:33:49.256-06:002014-12-01T05:33:49.256-06:00We finally have a wonderful rooster--a barred rock...We finally have a wonderful rooster--a barred rock--who won't even eat until all the hens have found the treat. He is a good lookout but has never been mean to us. We're really thankful since we went through several roosters who decided to attack our 5 year old. All those ended up resting in peace with dumplings pretty quick. But we find the flock runs better with a good rooster at the head.<br />--Ivy MaeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-3616491363079317702014-11-30T18:47:18.765-06:002014-11-30T18:47:18.765-06:00Vickie, some breeds of birds are a little more gen...Vickie, some breeds of birds are a little more gentle than others, by nature, but you can still get a cantankerous rooster, no matter what the breed. You can always cut off the spurs if you are concerned. Or, you can just get a new rooster every year before his spurs become too long. <br /><br />If you hatch some babies, keep a new rooster. Every few years, get a batch of mixed heavy males, keep the new rooster you want, and you're good for a few more years. By buying a batch of mixed heavies every few years, you will be bringing in new blood. But every year, rotate your rooster out of the ones you hatch. Thank you for reading.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-4712853756368959372014-11-30T18:39:26.562-06:002014-11-30T18:39:26.562-06:00Kathi, this may sound a little odd or strange, but...Kathi, this may sound a little odd or strange, but I believe if you know the bird you're eating, it seems to have a more delicate taste. The same goes for other livestock, also. No, here at our house, we have to all play together well. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-25677090547276459142014-11-30T18:36:44.565-06:002014-11-30T18:36:44.565-06:00Our first batch of chickens, Sandra, were half Buf...Our first batch of chickens, Sandra, were half Buff Orpington and half Rhode Island Red. We trimmed the spurs off of the Rhode Island Red after a handful of attacks, then we finally just got rid of him. We kept the Buff Orpington rooster for a good while. And we might do that again, too. Thank you for reading.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-88480424963278863672014-11-30T18:34:23.950-06:002014-11-30T18:34:23.950-06:00Well, if you like funny stories, Bellen, you'l...Well, if you like funny stories, Bellen, you'll like this one. We didn't hatch out any baby chicks last spring because we didn't have a rooster. That was the rooster that was dispatched with a 2 x 4. If I had given a little more thought to that situation, it probably would have had a different outcome. This spring I have every intention of hatching baby chickens. Thank you for reading.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-54091022416443495962014-11-30T18:30:52.461-06:002014-11-30T18:30:52.461-06:00We like to have a rooster around, Tewshooz, becaus...We like to have a rooster around, Tewshooz, because for years we have raised our own baby chickens. And without going into any secret science projects, we all know that to raise baby chickens, we need a baby chicken daddy. Some roosters are just a little more protective than others. And some roosters are just irritating, kind of like people. We cut the spurs off of a rooster once. It was a long time ago, and neither Fern or I can remember the outcome. I'm pretty sure we used a pair of side cutters. You always have to watch a rooster, because he is a rooster. Thank you for your comment.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-82751474682277742014-11-30T17:49:39.467-06:002014-11-30T17:49:39.467-06:00I guess our bucket takes the place of a big stick....I guess our bucket takes the place of a big stick. He is interesting, though. Not a bit of trouble unless one of the other chickens calls for help. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-4417806324028045002014-11-30T17:30:46.884-06:002014-11-30T17:30:46.884-06:00Holy cow! We will be getting our first flock this...Holy cow! We will be getting our first flock this next spring, and I think I am going to look for a breed specifically with gentle roosters - or maybe have no rooster at all! I have heard about getting "spurred" by roosters in the shins before, and this terrifies me! If I happen to get a mean rooster, I might just have to invest in a good pair of knee high boots - or have a tasty chicken dinner!Vickie @ makingoursustainablelife.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210045536198927269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-42688685902595003972014-11-30T17:18:17.608-06:002014-11-30T17:18:17.608-06:00Good for Frank for dispatching that first flogging...Good for Frank for dispatching that first flogging rooster. The only one I've had come after me was our black Australorp roo. I overlooked the first attack, but when he went after one of my children he was quickly taken care of. Sure tasted good.Kathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252527015193035090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-89845469245895394492014-11-30T16:11:46.190-06:002014-11-30T16:11:46.190-06:00I am not a fan of roosters.
The only one we ever ...I am not a fan of roosters. <br />The only one we ever had that was a gentleman at all times was our Buff. The rest have been rascals and they didn't last long.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14643387947219993819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-58340949194907667702014-11-30T05:28:10.228-06:002014-11-30T05:28:10.228-06:00Had no idea that keeping chickens with a rooster c...Had no idea that keeping chickens with a rooster could be so dangerous. In the telling it does get kind of funny - but only in the telling.Bellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249001827113998376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-60109214826425402522014-11-29T20:55:33.605-06:002014-11-29T20:55:33.605-06:00We had an Auracana rooster that attacked my husban...We had an Auracana rooster that attacked my husband while he was holding the lid of the trash can while scooping some grain from it. Of course the rooster got smacked with the lid. I had the misfortune to get between him and one of his hens one day and he dug his spurs into my shin so deeply that I wound up in the ER. Then he came after my husband again and DH kicked him, after which the rooster was addlepated and looked the other way when he saw us. The happiest day in my life (well, it seemed that way) was when my DH told me that the rooster had died in the night. Now we have a black cochine rooster who is the sweetest, gentlest boy. He protects his hens, but has never made a move towards us. My dad clubbed his barred rock rooster to death years ago after it jumped him from behind and dad fell face first down in the muddy chicken yard. He never kept a rooster after that. Tewshoozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564577459982968771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-36603564731652146822014-11-29T19:39:00.180-06:002014-11-29T19:39:00.180-06:00I am a firm believer that keeping roosters in line...I am a firm believer that keeping roosters in line takes a firm hand and a big stick. You don't want to kill him, just remind him that you are the king of the barnyard. I have a big blue orphington that started making my life h.ll, one day he attacked and earned a good hearty whack from me, enough that he ran around the yard crying for a half-hour or so but he left me alone after that. If he forgets (which he does every couple of months) one good whack does the trick. We are all happy, especially the hens that he looks after.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com