Mike, another chicken dude, cooooool, smiling. JP has been assimilated. He used to only keep bees, smiling that big smile. Think it was his escapades to my house, from Missouri to BC, Canada, during those midnight cyber-flights, trying to steal my Muscovy ducks for his dinner table :shock: (this is a standing joke with him and me, if you didn't know, smiling).
Anyways. I would never be without a rooster. I have several different breeds of chickens, all of the standard size. I have light Brahma, blue, black and splash Cochins, gold laced Wyandottes, and buff Orpington. They each have their own free ranging area. The roosters take care of every need of the hens (none of my roosters are mean, they are all sweet and very docile and nice). They show the gals where the best tidbits of food is, they make that rooster noise and the gals come running, like there was narry another piece of food on the earth. He will pick up food for them, drop it, to ensure that they see what he is speaking about. The rooster doesn't forage that much. His job is to watch out. The rooster watches the skies in particular. His lifelong he stands watching out. He will see a bird above in the sky long before the human eye can even detect what he is warning his gals about. The rooster warning call is shrill, long and he means business when that is sounded. The birds go running for their lives. He watches, they listen. I also believe that having a rooster around keeps the girls happy. A happy hen makes for some very nice laying patterns. I think that they feel protected when that rooster is nearby, they can forage constantly, never leaving their beady eyes from the stuff on the ground that they are wanting to find. Well, other than to look around to, to see where they are going :lol: . I love roosters. I sit in the house in the morning, and although the birds are still in their night houses, I can hear the call of the roosters, that begins long before that beautiful time of day, known as sunrise. Each rooster has their own particular rooster call, and it is the most beautiful thing to listen to. It is clear, long, and brings great pleasure to my soul and ears. Our chicken houses are are fair distance from our home, but I can still hear them. Sometimes it brings that swell in my throat, that lump that we all know as -- pride. I am proud of my roosters and my hens, all the critters in my chickenyards, they are my prides and joys. My blue Cochin rooster has the most beautiful of voices, in my opinion. It is deep, throaty and a very powerful projection -- it is not more shrill like the other breeds, I think it is because of his massive size, throat and head.
That is my take on the rooster. I will always have a rooster present. Should a rooster ever become mean, that rooster would be replaced. I will not stand for a mean rooster. And let me tell you, I have had a couple. A barred rock and a buff Orpington. Neither are here anymore. But the ones I have are just as nice as the gals that they co-exist with. Even the blue Cochin rooster is so gentle, he is sharing with the parenting duties of the two blue Cochin hens, which hatched out a clutch together, they all share those duties, very cool to see. Oh dear, as usual, you got that ramblin' gal goin', imagine that eh!!! :shock: ;) :) Beautiful days, with love and health, Cindi