Are most roosters bad??

[chicknmania]

I guess it depends on what you mean by bad. ALL roosters crow. So if that's bad, you're out of luck. We have had about twenty roosters over the past five or six years, and of those we only had one "bad" one; he would attack our ankles, we fended him off with a broom. He met his maker when he challenged a skunk. We have given some roos away b/c we didn't want so many, some have died from predators or just illness; but ALL of our roos (we currently have nine) are friendly, and polite. For one thing I think they take cues from each other on how to behave, but, beyond that, we do spend a lot of time with them. We only had one other one who bit when he was a cockerel; I would pick him up and pet him when he did that. He hated it, but he is now the tamest, nicest roo we have, and I have trained him to climb to my shoulder and crow. If your kids are afraid of them, I'm sure they sense it. Any animal will scratch, and it does heal. We grew up with that in mind when we were little, and we were never afraid of our pet roos. Neither were our kids. If your kids roughly handle the bird, it's to be expected that they're gonna get scratched. Maybe try a quieter breed, a silkie or a Delaware.

 

[MaggieRae]

No way! See signature.

I love my sweet little Lucy(Lucifer). (Australorps are well known for their gentle ways. If you look for the rooster thread, they're 7 out of 7 for being good.) He's a wonderful protector, doesn't crow that much (especially not as much considered to the 22-26 week old days). He's 30 weeks old. This rooster has never scratched me or attacked me. In fact, he often flips over in my arms so I can rub his belly.

 

[JMarch]

I just had to get rid of my two Americauna x Welsummer roosters. They were gorgeous, but were aggressive towards the kids and they were mating the hens way too much- some of the hens were losing too many back feathers.

We've still got a couple of production red roos and they're sweet with the kids and gentle with the hens.

 

[keesmom]

My BLRW roo is the sweetest thing. Never, ever has been the least bit aggressive with any human. Not to me, the kids, or strangers. He's excellent at watching for predators, nice to the hens, and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

We've had 8 roos over the years. Only one became a problem. He went after the kids who were just walking by the fence so that was the end of him. The other 7 were completely non aggressive.

 

[Paganbird]

I have had one mean rooster. We lost him to a raccoon last spring. My other roos are great. No fighting, attacking, or pecking.
I have 2 big standard guys (BR & BR mix) who are together in my big coop. I can pet them, pick them up, and carry them around. I have 2 partridge silkie roos who free-range with the big flock. They all get along.
In my banty coop, I have 2 white silkies roos, a blue silkie roo, and a (LF)polish roo. I can pick them all up, no problem. Toodee, the blue silkie, will even jump at your feet so you can lift him up to sit in your lap.
I also have a mille fleur booted bantam roo. He is the best. Such a sweet little guy.
My biggest rooster, Spot, is heavy, but I pick him up and tote him around with me when I do simple chores in the barn. I think carrying the roosters around helps them learn 'respect' toward me. I never paid much attention to our mean roo - and he turned out to be one meeeean rooster. After that experience, I started paying more attention to the roosters. Whenever they mount a hen in front of me, I scoop up the roo & carry him around for a bit. They're used to it now. They just come along... looking around. No fighting or squirming.
I don't know if that is the reason they are so nice, but I'll continue to do it. All 10 of our roosters are as easy-going as our hens.

 

[Dar]

I have 3 roos
1 polish
1 barnyard mutt
and an EE

They are all sweet...do they crow?.. yes but not all day and night only when I am in their way (like cleaning the coop, they like to yell at me but never attack me) or there is something to raise the alarm about

 

[stormylady]

I have 10 Roosters, seven too many for sure, but there isn't a mean one in the bunch, so my answer is no not all Roosters are mean.

 

[Garden Gal]

I really like my roos; they are not friendly as "pets", but they do a great job taking care of the girls and they respect me... I don't try to pick them up, but if they mount a hen when I'm in the yard I gently "kick" them off with the toe of my shoe/boot. They come running when I come in with treats. I've been fortunate, I know, to not have a mean roo (yet), but I would NOT keep a mean bird or any animal around me or my husband.

 

[Godsgrl]

We had a RIR/EE cross that was as sweet as pie. He never dropped a wing, never flogged, and took great care of his hens. If anything suspicious happened, he was there to check it out. We had small children around that roo, and he was always a gentleman. They could pick him up, play with his tailfeathers, and he never fussed. Unfortunately he was killed by a more aggressive roo, and that brat snuck up and flogged me today as I was feeding. Jerk.

Roosters are a lot like the lottery-once in a lifetime, you may get a good one. Miss you Goober.

 

[bubblebean11]

Quote:
What you wear has ALOT to do with it. Like you said dress like the guys and they dont mind. Look like a girl and your as good as toasted. They find when you wear anything that is red or pink or close to either they will try to eat you alive. SOOOO... I just were what works and makes them happy. When I wear my brown and black snow boots and dark colors they leave me be. My turkey is the most friendly guy in the world... my daughter wore her pink pjs outside and he jumped 3 feet in the air trying to get her. So she now knows to not to wear pink or red as well. All is happy and calm at the home now.