Common Rooster Myths - Clearing Up Rooster Misinformation

I have 7 roosters - 2 RIR's 3 1/2 yrs (bought togethers chicks), a black Australorp 3 1/2 yrs, a buff Orpington, a Amberlink/black Australorp cross 2 1/2 yrs, a Cuckoo Maran 1 2/2 yrs and the youngest at 7 months, a buff Brahma. The Australorp and Orpington's were gotten together from a friend. All were bought at the local TSC or Southern States Co-op except the cross breed, he was hatched by one of my bantams. They mostly get along with minimal tiffs. Two of them, a RIR and the black Australorp are co-alpha over all the flock with the RIR being the top rooster. Together they keep the younger roosters in line as well as all of the hens. I also have 3 drakes and 3 duck hens. The oldest drake, a 2 1/2 yr old, for an unknown reason, constantly chases the Cuckoo Maran rooster around the pen. My boys also talk to neighboring roosters throughout the day. I'm not sure whether its mine or one of the neighbors that starts first but they all seem to like crowing starting at 3am. At one time, I had 11 roosters in 4 pens but some were rehomed and a few died. Now all the ducks and chickens share the same pen and 2 coops.

I did have a "mean" rooster, a black Australorp named Jokester that I raised from age 4 months to his death several months ago at just over 3 years old. He for no reason attacked my hand one day drawing blood. Another black Australorp and both my RIR roosters whooped him all over the pen afterwards. He left me alone for about a month, then struck again. I showed him who was boss this time. That lasted another month or 2 before he attacked again. As he got older, he tested me a few times more. One day I bought some organic feed on sale and had just filled feeders when the worst happened. He was eating sneezed and inhaled the very powdery like feed causing him to turn purple. He was suffocating and he stumbled over to me as I made my way to him. I tried everything I could think of but he passed in my hands shortly afterwards. Eventhough we had our differences, he came to me for help but I wasn't able to. He got his name because he always laughed at people especially if you dropped something. He had the most beautiful perfect pitch crow I've ever heard and I miss hearing it each morning and miss him.

*Pictured are 3 of my boys.

i currently have 2 roosters and they do fine. My Silkie rooster is leader of the pack, and my huge Australorp concedes to be second.

Mine might have been a rarity, but I had a very, very aggressive high dollar Silkie rooster. Finally got to the point where I dispatched him, despite his high value as a breeder. He gave me 9 sons and none of them were the least bit aggressive.

I have a rooster and a back up cockerel in each of my Icelandic pens and have no problem with fighting. I think primarily because I incubated and hatched every one of them and socialized them in the brooder from day one.

I also have 9 male turkeys free ranging with the chickens and not one of them has shown any aggression. Again, I think because I incubated and hatched them and socialize with them every time I go out into the poultry yard.

It's about time someone cleared up some of these myths
I have 9 roosters currently and they ALL free range with my 42 hens all of various ages from 9wks to 5 years. One rooster I keep just so he will help teach the young boys how to treat the flock and babies as they grow up. He's a mutt and not good for breeding lol

Yes and Yes! Loved this article! I've had a few mean roosters mostly in hatchery breeds we've bought. 2 were Black Australorp and both boys were very aggressive, would fly at your face. 1 Naked Neck attacked your ankles, 1 Gold laced Wyandotte and 2 Millie Fleur. I now only hatch my own flocks and if I see any hint of rooster aggression, he goes. We have at least 6 with our hen flocks and "backup fellas" in a rooster coop.
We keep Leghorn, BCM, Lavender Ameruacana, American Bresse, barred Rock and Easter Egger/Olive Egger. After 7 years we just don't have a mean rooster anymore. I keep backup roosters because these boys will fight a predator to save the hens. They are my first level of protection along with our LGD.

Very informative, thank you!

Excellent article. Well written, informative, and concise. Good information, especially if you haven't dealt with rooster before.

It saddens me to see people assume all roosters are bad. My best buddy is a rooster! I've had aggressive roosters (and hens) before- but like every other species known to man, there are good and bad.
Thank you for this helpful, clarifying, well-written article!

Love the conversational tone of this piece - great information!

I love roosters and am always happy to read an article praising them. This was well written and informative.

Excellent article that clarifies many misconceptions about roosters. I have met people who think a rooster is needed to get eggs, and I hate it when someone asks if I have chickens and roosters. Great article that has a lot of good information!

Common sense rooster facts well presented.

I came to your article page looking for more emu info and found this. As I type, I’m sitting at my desk, which is in a heated area of my barn. Since it’s -20+ degrees below here in Wisconsin, and my little RIR roo is prone to frost bite, he enjoys coming to my office in the cold. He is at my feet while I sit in my desk chair and he’s snoozing away. Mearle is darling to me. But if you’re someone who’s not me, steer clear. Mearle wasn’t always nice to me. We had to establish pecking order initially between him and I - and on occasion, a refresher course is needed, but you’re right- they’re not all jerks to everyone all the time. I adore this guy. I only wish he were of breeding stock quality. Which he is definitely not. But I love him just the same.
As for mearle’s crowing- being that I’m a night owl, I often clean coops at 11 or 12 pm. This must have messed with his sleep cycles because he crows around the clock. Ususay starts at about 130am and goes five min on avg. every hour, on the hour. And there doesn’t have to be any disturbance. He just likes his own voice. He’s lucky I have no neighbors. As am I.
But I’m glad you wrote this. Too often roos get a bad wrap. And if you approach things right with a half way decent rooster, more often than not- there’s a gem in the rough. And mearle was raised in a rooster flock of five. He’s the last one living unfortunately. But until they passed the five boys did fine for the most part. Although it was loud. Really loud. Always. But they’re better guard dogs than dobermans. These are two fun pictures I took of squirrelly- mearle-y today.
Thanks again for writing this. I’m going to share it with a friend I’m trying to talk into taking a roo on.

A good start on dealing with some of the nonsense talked about roosters.

Excellent information

I have many Roosters and enough experience living with them that I can say this article accurately puts to rest some of the worst misinformation on Roosters. I can confirm that many roosters, with adequate space, can live together and that they protect and serve their hens. I can also confirm that aggressive Roos sire aggressive offspring: you should get your Roo(s) from proven sources. I can confirm that Roosters can be excellent parents and will actively participate in the rearing of chicks; they can be fierce protectors and even raise chicks by themselves. I can confirm that roosters are often heroic and can make great pets. And yes, I can confirm, there are in deed some bad apples. This article reflects very accurately my experience with Roosters. I'd like to think that you would consider having a Roo - or Roosters if you've space - and that you could commit to working with them after you've read this article.

Great article
I love the pictures
The topic is one that seems to always need to be addressed.
I love my roosters too and have just recently but not for long had one at a time in the coop with 8 to 14 hens.

When they work together it is a sight. To watch one roo distract a predator while the other gets the hens to safety is a site to behold!

Roosters are usually more friendly imo because it is instinctual for them to make sure whatever comes near their ladies is not a threat!

Crow it loud far and near - The Rooster facts are Clear!