A question about roosters

[OkieChickenGal]

Hello
I was wondering, is it true that some roosters are nasty towards people only for the first few months after they mature? Or do they always stay nasty? Also, what age do roosters start getting nasty?

 

[andreanar]

In my experience, little cockerels always seem more bold even as chicks. They tend to become a persons favorite chick because it appears to be so friendly. Not all cockerels become mean, or aggressive. Some do get testy around the 16-24 week age. Some get over it, some don't. There is no way to tell for sure, as all cockerels have their own personality. There is no for sure answer to your questions.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If a rooster starts attacking people it generally will never go away. Raising respectful roosters is easier than trying to fix aggression. Aggression can start as soon as they sexually mature, or it can take until their first adult spring.

I find not handling your roosters except to move and check them out as they are growing, no petting and holding, and no hand feeding can help to develop a better respectful relationship with you. Roosters should keep their distance, and shouldn't come into your personal space. You should always be confident, and not be afraid to move into their space, they should move off.

 

[Conan]

Well, this is loaded question... no real answer that applies to all roosters. They are all different. Roosters without hens act completely different than if they have a harem. Some roosters are crazy and attack as soon as you turn your back and will never stop coming. Some will never attack you. Some will be sweet as pie and friendly to boot.
When I was a kid, we had a really mean rooster named Stewart. He chased us kids, attacked my mom and nothing my dad did worked (he went into the freezer). I have a distinct memory of my mom throwing a tub of whipped cream cream that had gone bad at him and running away hollering for help! Recently, my dad had a barred rock that was about as mean as they come. You had to almost kill him to get into the coop. The only way to stop him was to knock him out.
My current rooster is a sweet Mottled Cochin Bantam. He is a doll. Very good to his ladies and while not overly friendly with people, he is not aggressive towards us - even kids. His three brothers? Nasty little buggers. All three got the ax. His son - like a dog. Follows you around and enjoys shoulder rides.
I think everyone on this site who has/had a rooster will have a different answer for you

 

[Redhead Rae]

Well, this is loaded question... no real answer that applies to all roosters. They are all different. Roosters without hens act completely different than if they have a harem. Some roosters are crazy and attack as soon as you turn your back and will never stop coming. Some will never attack you. Some will be sweet as pie and friendly to boot.
When I was a kid, we had a really mean rooster named Stewart. He chased us kids, attacked my mom and nothing my dad did worked (he went into the freezer). I have a distinct memory of my mom throwing a tub of whipped cream cream that had gone bad at him and running away hollering for help! Recently, my dad had a barred rock that was about as mean as they come. You had to almost kill him to get into the coop. The only way to stop him was to knock him out.
My current rooster is a sweet Mottled Cochin Bantam. He is a doll. Very good to his ladies and while not overly friendly with people, he is not aggressive towards us - even kids. His three brothers? Nasty little buggers. All three got the ax. His son - like a dog. Follows you around and enjoys shoulder rides.
I think everyone on this site who has/had a rooster will have a different answer for you

I want a shoulder rooster!

I concur, I only keep roosters that aren't mean to humans/hens/other roosters (other than asserting dominance)/chicks. I don't have the time to "train" mean roosters and that training does jack-squat for how they treat anyone but me. No, thank, you. I have a 20 month old and I can't afford to have aggressive animals around him. They are better off being eaten.

 

[Conan]

I want a shoulder rooster!

I concur, I only keep roosters that aren't mean to humans/hens/other roosters (other than asserting dominance)/chicks. I don't have the time to "train" mean roosters and that training does jack-squat for how they treat anyone but me. No, thank, you. I have a 20 month old and I can't afford to have aggressive animals around him. They are better off being eaten.

Robert the Bruce, the shoulder rooster, is the sweetest guy! I got lucky and got my neighbor/co-worker to take him. She loves him. I have one more roo left and he has yet to show any aggression either. Think I have winning genes with Marilyn Manson

I agree - there are too many nice roos out there to bother with a nasty one!

 

[SilkiesInSuburb]

The sweetness of a rooster is as variable as they come. Breed and raising are the major factors. I had a silkie boy, Thunder, who was the sweetest chicken in the whole flock. There was also my friend's barred rock rooster who was a veritable devil. Most roosters go through their hormonal period. For example, Hamlet, my sultan-silkie rooster, used to peck at me and my mom but stopped after a couple weeks.

 

[Alaskan]

You can get roosters for free!!!

Some breeds have better temperaments than others... no reason at all to keep a bad rooster.

 

[Peter.J]

We had a Rhode Island Red rooster, Jack, who was always fine around me, but he would attack my wife, sister, niece, dogs etc. He ended up in the oven; just wasn’t worth a kid/dog losing an eye... I have a couple now a bielefelder and an americauna cockerel, 6months old. No signs of human agression at all so hopefully it keeps up. I think a lot of it is just predisposition; personally i wouldn’t wast a lot of time with a mean rooster, they are so easy to come by just try another one...

 

[OkieChickenGal]

Thanks everyone! I have a Black copper maran rooster who will be 4 months at the end of march. Do black copper marans tend to be a nastier breed?