Are all roosters inherently mean or ornery?

[imthedude]

Hi all.

Don't post here much anymore but always come here when I have a chicken question like I do now.

Are all roosters inherently mean or ornery? It seems as though I never get a nice one but instead get ones that are always interested in spurring either me or my son. Most recent case in point: the latest one that we allowed to live at our place was a barred rock guy that got mixed in with our pullet order last summer. After a few weeks when I realized she was really a he, I decided to give a rooster another go. He was generally pretty good with me. We had our moments, but after a couple of dressings down and "talking to" sessions, he started to respect me. He seemed pretty nice, always came to have a little scratch with the girls, and was a pretty good protector of his harem of 22 girls.

My 3year old son was a different story. A week ago when we were out back doing something together, I saw the rooster try to spur him out of the corner of my eye. I had a chat with him and decided to give him another chance. Saturday it happened again, and he was gone before I could get ahold of him. At this point my son was terrified to go out back where the birds are, so yesterday morning I went out with him, caught Mr. Roo, and had a little talking to with him and my son. All seemed fine until about an hour later when he went after my son again. That was his last chance, and he's now hard as a rock in our freezer.

That's a long explanation to get to the question about whether or not all roosters act like this, or do I just get the bad ones? I wouldn't mind keeping one around, but it seems the ones we've had have all been like this. Do I just pick the wrong breeds, or are all roos just ornery?

 

[ChckenBoy13]

Most roosters are very protective of their hens and can see lot's of things as a threat. Roosters tend to go after small children if they go after anyone at all. I don't know about that breed specifically but I do know that game roosters can be super mean so avoid those!

 

[redsoxs]

Good questions. I think you have had a run of bad luck with roosters. I think while your rooster saw you at the top of the pecking order, you saw himself above your son as well. Not all may agree with your solution but that's exactly what I would have done. No way is a chicken gonna hurt someone in my family. To your greater question, I'm not sure if they are all ornery or not - I've had luck with mine - they have been tough with each other but not with me. I do know they seem more ornery than most hens. Although, I have an Ancona hen that may be having a gender identity crisis - she seems to have aggressive tendencies but so far is keeping herself in check! Good luck to you!

 

[donnaboydjones]

Hi all.

Don't post here much anymore but always come here when I have a chicken question like I do now.

Are all roosters inherently mean or ornery? It seems as though I never get a nice one but instead get ones that are always interested in spurring either me or my son. Most recent case in point: the latest one that we allowed to live at our place was a barred rock guy that got mixed in with our pullet order last summer. After a few weeks when I realized she was really a he, I decided to give a rooster another go. He was generally pretty good with me. We had our moments, but after a couple of dressings down and "talking to" sessions, he started to respect me. He seemed pretty nice, always came to have a little scratch with the girls, and was a pretty good protector of his harem of 22 girls.

My 3year old son was a different story. A week ago when we were out back doing something together, I saw the rooster try to spur him out of the corner of my eye. I had a chat with him and decided to give him another chance. Saturday it happened again, and he was gone before I could get ahold of him. At this point my son was terrified to go out back where the birds are, so yesterday morning I went out with him, caught Mr. Roo, and had a little talking to with him and my son. All seemed fine until about an hour later when he went after my son again. That was his last chance, and he's now hard as a rock in our freezer.

That's a long explanation to get to the question about whether or not all roosters act like this, or do I just get the bad ones? I wouldn't mind keeping one around, but it seems the ones we've had have all been like this. Do I just pick the wrong breeds, or are all roos just ornery?

I think it depends on the Rooster and just his personality.
I have a 3 year old Americana rooster who has never went after anyone. I have a speckled Sussex rooster that I have raised since he was 2 days old and he is now almost a year. He allows me to hold and carry him like a cat. Follows me every where , including trying to get into the house or my suburban. Others are even able to hold him and he's super friendly.
That being said, I had a family come over to pick up some chicks and he went after the young son, twice. I had never seen him behave in that way and was blown away, but I did witness it with my own eyes.
I also believe he thought he was keeping his women safe.
For the future I will not allow him to around young children.

 

[donrae]

Roosters are never to be trusted around small children, any more so than bulls or stallions. Just cause they're small, doesn't mean they can't do a heck of a lot of damage. They still have all the testosterone of an intact male, just in a smaller package. And some folks just don't have the assertive personality needed to manage a rooster, just like not everyone is appropriate to own a pit bull or similar breed of dog. Sounds like you should just be content with your hens.

 

[Mrs. K]

I strongly agree with Donrae, until your youngest child is close to 6 years old, I would not want a rooster anywhere near them. When my grandchildren come, the flock is in their run. My grand kids can watch them from the outside. My niece and nephews are in school or close to school age, they are taller, understand moving slower, and go in and get eggs, and mix with the flock, but even then, I am with them.

I have had roosters that are pretty good, but their brain is quite small, and I am not betting ANY child's face or eye on the reasoning power of a hormone drenched roo.

Mrs K

 

[imthedude]

And some folks just don't have the assertive personality needed to manage a rooster, just like not everyone is appropriate to own a pit bull or similar breed of dog.

i'm not really sure how to respond to this other than "OK." a barred rock rooster is akin to a pit bull? maybe i am inept at reading comprehension, but i fail to see the link or equality there.

 

[donrae]

i'm not really sure how to respond to this other than "OK." a barred rock rooster is akin to a pit bull? maybe i am inept at reading comprehension, but i fail to see the link or equality there.

My point was trying to be that very submissive/beta type humans shouldn't have some animals. Some folks will never, ever be comfortable being dominant, even to a much smaller animal. I've seen households ruled by a five pound dog, just cause none of the humans are really alpha. Some folks are fine to own less dominant dogs, like labs, but wouldn't do well with a more dominant dog like a Rott or pit. Some folks will never be assertive enough to properly manage a rooster. I'm a horse person at heart and have seen many, many people who shouldn't have horses cause they just don't get how to be dominant to them. Then, I've also seen those whippy, skinny 13 year old girls that have no fear and can manage to get a horse to do just about anything! It's a matter of attitude, and I was just trying to say some folks just don't have the attitude to own a rooster.

 

[imthedude]

My point was trying to be that very submissive/beta type humans shouldn't have some animals. Some folks will never, ever be comfortable being dominant, even to a much smaller animal. I've seen households ruled by a five pound dog, just cause none of the humans are really alpha. Some folks are fine to own less dominant dogs, like labs, but wouldn't do well with a more dominant dog like a Rott or pit. Some folks will never be assertive enough to properly manage a rooster. I'm a horse person at heart and have seen many, many people who shouldn't have horses cause they just don't get how to be dominant to them. Then, I've also seen those whippy, skinny 13 year old girls that have no fear and can manage to get a horse to do just about anything! It's a matter of attitude, and I was just trying to say some folks just don't have the attitude to own a rooster.

k

 

[Thespoiledchicken]

I have had mean roosters in the past and they have been put down- I will not tolerate a mean roo when there are so many nice roosters who need good homes

That being said I have not had a mean roo in over 12 years. My current breeds of chickens just seem to have nice roosters. I am still always cautious with my young children around them but so far so good.

My favorite gentle guys are Black Copper Marans, Cream Legbars, Orpingtons, Cochins and Ameraucanas.

This is my Cochin roo- he is my sons favorite rooster and he is sweet as sugar. So don't count all roos out...there are plenty of nice ones