We have two separate groups of chickens and one rooster in each group. Roosters are strange little creatures. They can really be deadly and are always to be respected, if not feared. Bad roosters will “flog” (attack you with their feet/spurs and flap their wings at you) and the spurring can often result in serious cuts.
Any time a rooster makes me uncomfortable, he’s history. We currently have one rooster I do not like. I will not go inside the run with that rooster and when I go out to get eggs, I get eggs without going into the run but if I don’t see him out in the run, I am not even opening that egg door because I know he’s inside the coop. He doesn’t bother Vince but sometimes, if I walk by their area and he thinks I’m not watching him, he’ll fly at the fence like he’s trying to get me. I do not like him and apparently, it’s very mutual.
When I take treats over to them and dump them into the pen, he comes running over and gets his share first . . with total disregard to the hens.
We had one rooster . . Wilbur’s brother, in fact. When I was out in the orchard, where those chickens run loose, he would constantly walk up to me and bump me. Every third or fourth step I took, he’d try to hit me. I always had to keep a big stick with me and on the few times I thought I could make it in and out of there without a stick, I’d always wish I had brought one with me when I’d see him heading toward me. I told Vince I was afraid of him and the next day, he was gone!
This is Wilbur. If there was ever a prince of a rooster, it would be Wilbur. No matter what I bring out to them, no matter how much he likes it, he stands back and waits for the hens to get all they want before he gets any. Sometimes, I’ll try to call him over separately and give him a treat and he will never eat it til he is certain the hens are finished.
I can see those chickens from my knitting chair. They are in a 1-1/2″ acre fenced in area. When something scares them, they always run back to the coop. They can get under the coop, or there’s a clump of trees near there that they like to hide under. I saw the chickens go running from the far corner of the yard to the coop. Wilbur was about 1/3 way from the back of the pack. He was running slower and kept looking back and when he was sure all the hens were in front of him and he was the “tail” of the line, he began running faster. His first priority is always making sure the hens are safe.
I think it’s so neat the way good roosters perform. The sad thing is that Wilbur is getting old. If I took a picture of him today, he’d be much lighter/grayer than the photo shown above which was taken several years ago. I hope he lives a lot longer!
Teri says
I like your description of Wilbur :). Did you name the rooster you don’t like? Is he the same breed as Wilbur?
Judy Laquidara says
Wilbur is a Dominique but his brother was a Dominique and he was bad. The bad rooster is a Wyandotte and yes, he has a name but it isn’t a name I should share! 🙂
Rebecca - SoCal says
I didn’t realize Wilbur was still around! Your stories of him make me smile. Too bad they can’t all be Wilburs.
Judy Laquidara says
That would make me happy. He’s really gotten gray. He’s old! When I see a picture like the one I shared today that’s probably 3 years old at least, I realize how gray he is.
Rebecca says
I never realized birds go gray!!
Judy Laquidara says
I should go out and get another picture of him and compare.
Susan Nixon says
It’s such a shame he couldn’t train another rooster somehow. It makes you wonder where he learned that behavior or why he listened to some genetic instructions when you’ve had other roosters who don’t.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s what I keep wondering. Why is one bad and one not? Two roosters together usually doesn’t end well because even Wilbur wants to kill other roosters.
RUTH CHOW says
What a good picture of Wilbur! I like the fence frame. I hope Wilbur lives a lot longer, too.
Sara F says
When we still farmed, we had a very large number of sheep. And we had one buck (male) that terrorized me all the time. I always carried a big stick with me if I had to walk through an area where he had free range. Without the stick he would knock me down. I was so glad when we got rid of him.
Judy Laquidara says
I never thought about other animals doing that.
Toni Macomb says
I had chickens for about 20 years….and through those years several roosters, starting with
Johnny Rooster and his hens. We got them as a group from a friend. He was a great rooster, like Wilber. But during those years we had one rooster that was mean and I hated him. However, he was fine with my husband. I literally carried a garbage can lid around with me to fend him off. Said husband, thought it was funny but finally understood that the rooster had to go! Not the best eating I’ve ever had but I did have the satisfaction of having the last, if not word, the final bite!
Judy Laquidara says
I find old roosters to be stringy so I usually make broth, then grind the meat for dog food.
Nelle Coursey says
Wilbur is absolutely beautiful! Inside and out! I love the way he looks.
Judy Laquidara says
I like him too and I hate that he’s getting so old but he probably looks at us and says the same thing! 🙂
Twyla says
The neighbor got a mean rooster and warned me if the rooster caught me outside he would spur me. I replied, “Only once.”
Judy Laquidara says
Why would anyone keep a mean rooster and definitely not when it can get to other people?? Yes . . once or even if he even looks like he wants to spur you . . he’s history.