I’ve said it before and will say so again: roosters are integral to a flock. They procreate, protect and bring food to the hens, manage conflicts and enforce the pecking order. They are often misunderstood and considered aggressive or superfluous. I’ve never had a ‘bad’ rooster and often had one that was the friendliest chick, growing up to be a curious adult. Hands down, they bring beauty and, in the case of the following stories, entertainment to their keepers.
I’m not too fond of this guy barging in the house like he pays bills. Not too long ago he was injured and was housed in a cage indoors. Ever since he was put back outside he will jump at the door and hoot and holler like death is upon him. When we open it, he makes a beeline to the house. He follows my daughter to the moon and back. I’m afraid when school starts he may try to ride the bus with her. How long does it take for a rehab to realize he got a hint of luxury and now he has to face the facts that chickens belong outside?
Tiffany Steinkuehler
I woke up early this morning and laid in bed enjoying the silence. Then I started wondering why my rooster wasn’t crowing. I got up and got ready, still in silence, then put on my boots and headed outside, bracing myself to find him dead. I stepped into the yard and there he was, standing there like always. His eyes met mine and, just like that, he started crowing
Alice Well
As their mother, it pains me to see Tito, Camille, and Roxanne all huddled up in the corner because Slick (formerly known as Richard) is a sex maniac. I didn’t raise him that way.
Carolyn Lam
I followed suggestions on taming a hormonal young rooster. I carried him around. I loved on him. I gave him scritches till he purred. I sang songs to him. I tidbitted treats to him. And…. I think it may have worked too well. I now have a rooster-dog. He follows me around. He looks for me in the windows. He sings songs to me while I work in the yard, getting under my feet.
I’m worried that he’s not being a good husband to his three hens. He’s too busy looking for me and doesn’t lead them on expeditions through our bamboo forest. He doesn’t wander around looking for nesting sites or forage areas.
Is this a phase? Should I let it play itself out? Or is there something I should actively be doing?
Ashton Jacks
My hens just started laying eggs a few weeks ago. I work third shift so it’s hard to observe but I recently started noticing my rooster in the coop while one of my hens lays eggs. He’s always with her, bending down clicking very, very softly non-stop like he’s coaching her. Is this like a normal thing? Is he just a gentleman? Why doesn’t he do it for the other girls?
Robin Lynn Griffith
I’m a new chicken mama. I have a roo from one friend and seven hens from another. They all fell in love immediately and my rooster goes in there after the hen lays and cuddles around the egg and coos to it, making purring noises. Then they all come out of the coop. I thought that was the most precious thing I’d ever seen.
Brenda Jean Watt
I gotta ask a question: if you’re walking up to a fence that says “beware of dog” Do you think there’s a cuddly puppy on the other side?
I have a sign on my fence that says, “beware of territorial rooster”. He is cuddly. He is one of the best chickens I have ever owned; however he takes his job very seriously. If he has seen a falcon or hawk that day he’s on guard the rest of the day (kinda the reason you get a rooster).
This lady came up to my fence; saw me in my backyard and wants to sell/preach/talk to me about something. She clearly sees the sign ‘cause she says she loves chickens and proceeded to invite herself into my backyard while I’m walking across the yard, telling her “no” and to turn around. She’s still walking towards me saying, “Oh look how pretty he is”. I don’t think he wanted to be called pretty today.
Long story short, she got spurred and wants me to put my rooster down. I told her she missed my sign at the front. She said, “I saw the one about chickens, I just didn’t think they would hurt me”. I said, “Great, there’s another one on the front door that says ‘we shoot trespassers’ and lady you ain’t standing on your land”.
She left. Here’s my man of the day:
Mowgli Griffin
I have six girls who are sadly within city limits and therefore denied having their very own rooster. We would like to put pictures of roosters in their coop so they at least know what one looks like for giggles. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find what I’m looking for online. There are plenty of hen pics but few roosters.
If anyone would be willing, we would love if you could post a very clear, full-bodied picture of the man in your hens’ life that you would be okay with our creative rendering of said picture that would then be printed, framed and posted in the coop. The name of your handsome fellow would be great as well! Once we have completed them and hung in the coop we will share the end result! Is it silly? Absolutely! Laughter truly is the best medicine and this will provide laughs for years to come.
Nicole Brenna
Backstory: Basically I was scammed. I have a couple of really pretty silver Polish hens but wanted to add chamois and golden polish to the flock. I was to a man who sells golden, chamois and silver Polish eggs. He sent me pictures of his birds, which looked nice and didn’t have any faults. It was a two-hour drive to get to his house and he asked us to come after he got home from work. When we got there we were given eggs without seeing any of his birds. He said they had all gone to roost for the night and didn’t like to disturb them. I only had one out eleven eggs hatch with seven not even fertilized. The one chick was chamois but had a lot of black feathers here and there. I sent the man a picture he said he was surprised that my chick had some black feathers and maybe somehow a golden rooster had gotten in with the chamois hens. He told me that he could send ten more eggs by mail at a discounted price plus I pay shipping. Stupidly I believed him and gave him more $$$. I have beaten myself up plenty for being so gullible. The second time I had four hatch: three chamois and one silver. All the chamois had at least a couple of black feathers and all chicks have been roosters. I was holding out hoping these last two late bloomers would be hens. I was just going to look past their dirty genes and not hatch any chicks from them. It seems my fate is sealed and not only did I not get any chamois or golden hens, but now I have this possessed rooster to contend with.
I have been sick for a week so my husband or our neighbour has been doing chicken duty for me. Today I finally went outside to see the chooks for a little bit. While out there I see my two young Polish are flippin’ roosters. I was startled and nearly let out a blood-curdling scream when I saw that the silver Polish teenager has grown horns and two sets of wattles. He is the scariest and ugliest rooster I have ever seen! He looks like the spawn of the devil. I have never seen a Polish rooster or hen look like Rosemary’s baby’s pet chicken. I would not be surprised if I come out tomorrow and he’s wearing a hockey mask and the coop looks like a set of slasher film. OR his head might just start spinning around and vomiting. I don’t know what to do with him. I have the holy water, cross, garlic, stakes and silver bullet ready but I don’t want to have him haunt my dreams. If I give him away or cut his head off I don’t want him to just appear back in the coop the next day. Please I need your help and prayers.
FYI:
I think it’s kinda silly to have to say this, but I am joking! I do not believe this chick is actually possessed nor do I need your priest to save my soul or his. I am not going to kill these chicks with a knife, wooden stake, silver bullet or even an axe! I am not looking to actually make a chicken slasher movie nor am I a fan of horror films. If these two chicks are roosters I will have to rehome them because my neighbors are already not happy with the 4am alarm clocks I already have.
They are 15 weeks old. Unfortunately this breed takes forever to mature. At this age they can have a nice smooth bouffant one day and then the next they are ready to join a 1980s hairspray band.
Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and photos.
Bitchin' Chickens 
Cool!
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