Are Bantam Cochin Roosters safe to have around a 3 year old?

[phoenix rooster]

Hi I bought a straight run of 25 bantam chicks, I would like to keep 2 roosters as protectors of the flock, as I also have 27 other standard hens. First will they be good to have around a 3 year old and secondly will they do a good job of protecting their flock since they are bantams. They are almost 6 weeks now. have you heard of aggressive cochin roosters? Thanks!

 

[hatchaholic]

I can only speak for mine cuz we are still very new to chickens.

I have two banty partridge cochin cockerels, and two RIR cockerels. They are all 23 weeks old. So far, the cochins have never shown any aggression (unlike the RIRs). But, like with any animal, small children should always be supervised.

And, I couldn't imagine my cochins protecting the flock from anything. They are so small...

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OMGOSH mine would be! LOL He is such a sweet heart! My 3 yr old picks him up all the time. Even pics up his girl and he just runs around squaking but doesn't go near the three yr old. They are so very tiny I don't think they could even jump!

 

[Chickndaddy]

My Standard sized Splash rooster hated me with a passion. None of the other Cochin roosters bother me. And anyone else could go in the pen and he would be fine. It was just me. People swore I must do something to him, but I never did. He would even hit the fence when I walked by. Eventually he got where I could come in the pen and so long as I avoided him he was fine. But if I moved towards him, he would either rush me or circle around and bide his time. He was so big though he really couldn't spur me. He just ran into me. That was still enough to annoy me. For a while I went on strike and wouldn't go in there to feed water or collect eggs (much to the hens delight)...lol

 

[iajewel]

You are asking for two very diffrent temperments in the same bird. Remember temperment in chickens is genetic, just like in everything else. So if you want an aggresive flock protector, you will have an agressive bird. If you want a sweet pet, you will have a quiet tempement in that bird. The key here is that it is a rooster and roosters are naturally territorial. I hope you don't want this banny rooster to protect agients preditors? He is not going to have the size to do that.
I cull my roos for many things but temperment being on the top of the list. If you have some that are fighting more than others, get snaky etc.. those would be the ones to cull if you have a small child. If you have sevral that aren't fighters (more than normal) and don't get snakey with you.. then you can also cull for confirmation, size, breed type etc.

What ever temperment your rooster has, is the temperment your next generation of birds will have. Breed doesn't always matter when it comes to rooster temperment.

 

[phoenix rooster]

thanks for all the tips, I'm more interested in a friendly rooster, so I'll cull or sell the others.

 

[TerrasCritters]

It all depends on the bird themselves and sometimes the way they are raised, I have never had a mean cochin roo, and i have raised them for a few years now, I have only had one mean roo in the last 3 years and it was a silkie roo, he was fine for the first year then he got agressive, so he went to the auction. You little ones shouldnt have a problem with being agressive, but no one can really say for sure, it all depends on the birds.

 

[pbjmaker]

My banty D'Uccle rooster about took down a white leghorn last week. Some banties seem to think they are bigger than they are. This bird is never aggressive to us though - a little stand-offish, but not aggressive. He just doesn't like other chickens messin' with his ladies. We also have perrigan falcons around and all three of my D'Uccle roos will round up the flock and stand point if they see one. They make sure the younger babies are hidden under some boards or in a bush. So I think they are great protectors.

 

[seedcorn]

Having had bantam cochins, they will stand up to other chickens but they were extremely friendly to people. Excellent w/brood hen with chicks. Protectors against dogs, etc.........don't think so. When the attacks come, he'll sound an alarm and run for cover. He's a 21's century man. Equal rights for all females......he'll run w/them and if he can outrun them from dogs.......

 

[lockedhearts]

As a general rule Cochins are very laid back and easy going, but also as with any animal if they are handled with loive and care they are more likely to be nicer. I have both Standard and Bantam Cochins and all of them are easy to deal with, my standard rooster growls, not mean it is just the way he talks. Actually I really don;t have any mean chickens at all.