Choosing a Rooster Is a Lot Like Choosing a Husband.
As I’ve learned more about chickens, I’ve come to realize that a lot of their characteristics are much like humans. It’s funny how God uses nature to teach us about ourselves and Him. I’ve been carefully watching our pullets to try and figure out who is a hen or a rooster, who I want to keep and who I want to cull. In this process it dawned on me that choosing a rooster to lead the flock is just like choosing a husband. This is a great lesson for all of us, especially teenagers! Train your kids to choose wisely.
Teach your sons to be strong roosters & teach your daughters to choose a strong rooster to lead her family. Who you marry matters!
He’s handsome. While handsome isn’t the most important trait, it is important. You want your hens to enjoy his company and you want to enjoy watching him. The same can be said for choosing a man. Does he take care of himself? Do you find him attractive? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, choose well!
Puts his flock before himself. You want a rooster that will protect his flock, even if that means fighting to the death. A good rooster will issue a warning call, collect his flock, show them to safety and will fight off the predator to keep his flock safe. It goes without saying that this is a very desirable trait in a husband as well. Choose a man that wants to protect you because he loves you. Men, protect your family, no matter the cost. They are your priority.
He shares and makes sure his flock is well nourished. A good rooster will find food and call the flock over to eat. He may toss food in their direction and even fight off other roosters so that his ladies can eat first. A good husband does this too, just a little differently. He provides for his family, makes sure that they have quality food to eat and makes sure his “hen” is well taken care of.
They aren’t over aggressive to humans. While you want your rooster to be protective of your flock, you don’t want a rooster that attacks you or your family anytime you come near. He should have a healthy fear of you and your family. The same can be said for a man. While you want a husband that is protective, you don’t want a husband that is abusive to you or anyone who comes near your family. The strongest, most admirable man has considerable self - control. He knows when and how to use his strength.
A good rooster is gentle with his hens. There is a big difference in mating with love and gentleness and mating with anger. Choose wisely with your hen and when choosing a husband. Make sure your rooster is respectful and gentle with the hens. If he is being too aggressive and causing them harm, it’s time to cull the rooster. If you notice excessive wear on the saddle and head area of a hen, it can be a sign that the rooster is a bit too aggressive with the hens. Ladies, choose a gentle, but firm hand. Self - control, love, gentleness and a protective nature are important in all areas of marriage. You want a husband that leads you gently, not possessively.
They tolerate other roosters well. A little bit of cock fighting is normal and healthy. But a knock-down, drag-out fight is not healthy for your flock or your home. A good rooster, once the pecking order has been established, will leave the other roosters alone. The same can be said for a good man. He may spar with other men on occasion, men may rib each other, in younger boys this may look like a few tussles. But as they mature and establish themselves, they learn to leave other men alone unless their “flock” is threatened.
He is vigorous and alert. To be clear, this is the opposite of lazy. Choose a rooster that is always moving about looking for food, danger and making sure his flock is well taken care of. Don’t choose a rooster that spends his day laying around. A top-quality rooster will crow often and loud telling the hens something - which means he’s always on alert. Obviously the same applies to choosing a husband. Choose a man that works hard, has a desire to provide for others and enjoys toiling with his hands.
A good rooster knows where home is. He knows how to lead his flock back home; he comes home and enjoys being there with his flock. This is vitally important when choosing a husband. Choose a man that likes to be with you, you are his preferred person, and he shows it by choosing to spend time with you. A good man does not wander off looking for the next form of entertainment. He is committed and spends time with his family.
As you can see, choosing a good quality rooster or husband takes time. It’s not something to rush into. Take time to observe how your roosters interact with the flock and choose the best overseer so that your flock can thrive and bring you years of happiness.
“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” 1 Timothy 3: 2 - 4
