Are orpington roosters friendlier?

[K0k0shka]

@Quackter That's HILARIOUS!!! Now I want to try it just for the laughs, too

@ChocolateMouse This is very interesting and informative, thanks! It makes sense, and makes me rethink my rooster plans entirely. I'd rather have pet-like chickens. I know they're not dog/cat type of pets and I don't expect them to roll over for me and purr, but some interest in me would be nice I like your suggestion - thanks! I don't have the capacity for two brooders and two sets of chicks, so I'll modify your game plan a bit. I still want to hatch eggs for our first chickens, because I want the full experience for my kids. But instead of keeping one of the roosters, we'll eat them all and live with just hens for a year or so, to get them nice and bonded to us and friendly. Then, if/when one of them goes broody, I'll give her a few fertilized eggs to hatch, and keep a rooster from that batch. I would really love the experience of a mama hen with babies, both for the sake of my kids experiencing it, and for myself. We had mama hens when I was growing up and I LOVED watching them care for their babies!

@Egghead_Jr The hatchery vs. breeder distinction is good information, thanks. I hadn't given that much thought, but it makes sense. From what I gather, hatcheries go for bulk, quantity vs. quality, whereas breeders care more about the kind of animals they're producing? Is that right? I was thinking of ordering fertilized eggs from a farmer who started "chickening" as a hobby, then fell in love with them and started breeding them full time. He seems to put a lot of thought and care into his chickens, and specializes in Orpingtons. Here's his website:

https://papaspoultry.com/

Does anybody here have any experience with this guy?

 

[slordaz]

I have found don't matter as much the breed as the individual and how much himan interaction they get from hatch

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I haven't read over previous replies to your thread but I wanted to chime in to let you know my experience. I ended up with a Buff Orpington Cockerel on accident (he was in an order of pullets). He was AWFUL!!! I have 3 other kinds of cockerels and none of them were anywhere close to the BO cockerel. He is 9 weeks old and has been trying to mount the girls for at least a week or more. He would peck at my hand (aggressively) just for reaching in to pick up one of the chicks. To be completely transparent, I was able to break him from pecking me, but he still looked at me/my hand/whatever, and it was obvious that he wanted to attack but he was working up the nerve again. I don't want to change your feelings about BO's but honestly, it seems like it varies bird to bird. My BO Pullet is my absolute favorite! She is the perfect bird, of course that's in my own personal opinion. I wish you all the best. Getting started with chickens has been one of the best things I've done and I wish everyone could experience the enjoyment they bring

 

[K0k0shka]

@Momplus1 Thanks for the input! Every story matters, as I try to figure out if roosters are worth it, so thanks for sharing. I guess I have to hope I get lucky! I enjoyed growing up with chickens and really miss them, so I'm really looking forward to having them around again!

 

[CalBickieMomma]

I have had several roosters over the many years of my chicken rearing and only once did one turn out to be overly aggressive (to the point of where I would have to wrap a towel around him and he’d still try to attack me ). The roosters have all been different or mixed breeds. I currently have two Buff Orpingtons (and one is clearly a roo) - 10 weeks old. So far, Gerard has been a sweet, mellow boy who likes lap naps and being the first in line for snacks . I’m hoping he’ll stay that way as he gets older, but I’m not too worried about it. I love roosters .

In my experience, giving a roo lots of love and attention has nearly always resulted in a tame boy when he’s older (and this was when I was a kid with my own rooster pets, raising them from the egg, I like to say ). A few times my young roos tried to boss me around (came at me when I entered the coop), so the next time I went in, I came at them more aggressively and picked them up to let them know who was boss (sometimes it’ll mean shoving them back with your foot so they realize they can’t overpower you. Just make sure you don’t hurt them, just show them whose in charge ).

I did this with a neighborhood roo (Ameraucana) who was terrorizing everyone. I approached him and yes, he scratched up my legs a little, but once I got a hold of him and he couldn’t attack me, he lost his bluster. After that, he would draw up short of actually attacking me when I was out in his territory.

And of course, this method won’t prove true for all roosters (you can show a rooster whose boss until the chickens come home (), but if his brain is just wired to be aggressive, there might not be anything you can do . Anyhoo, hpefully this will help you in the future if you do get your roos and they start to get a little bossy with you .

 

[Alexandra33]

My Lav Orpington was a terror.....but, to his defense, the role as our very first rooster proved disastrous. Poor guy endured what no bird should ever have to face. I still experience endless regret over how we raised him.

If you don't mind, I'd like to share my personal experiences over the years, which may seem controversial to many. It's wonderful to see so many members who advocate for loving their cockerels.....not feeling terribly lonely anymore. After trying BOTH methods of raising on MANY, MANY subjects of various breeds, I yielded (and continue to yield) significantly better results by treating my boys with immense kindness. In fact, the new issue is finding cockerels to cull, because they're almost all wonderfully respectful. Elimination is now, for the most part, based on how they interact with hens. (though there are 1-2 out of every group who become human aggressive regardless)

As someone who buys strictly straight run these days, and also as someone who likes friendly birds, I socialize every chick in the same manner. Gender makes no difference. Hand-feeding, extensive handling, and bonding are all involving during the process. There's nothing wrong with earning your roo's trust.

Let's just say that back in the dark ages, when I was the "dominant rooster," things didn't go so well. Out of around 30+ cockerels, only one remained. The rest threatened me daily, and being attacked was a common occurrence. Roos don't take kindly to us challenging their authority, as this is behavior they understand. In fact, my sweetest OEGB is a perfect example. As affectionate as he normally is, he's not a pushover. When one of my younger brothers took to chasing Kisses aggressively (which I strongly discourage), he immediately flogged his leg. Now, my brother has a healthy respect for Kisses, and Kisses hasn't gone after a living soul since. He's an amazing bird, but any challenge brings out the ugly.

YES, you CAN have a pet rooster. As long as he inherited the right temperament (which one can't be sure of until maturity), it's entirely possible. Many, even here on BYC, will attest to the fantastic loyalty only a roo could be capable of. Some of my very closest bonds are, indeed, with roosters. A favorite pastime of my family's is to bring our boys inside for treats and love. Kisses warms hearts far and wide. He doesn't know a stranger.....guests are always treated to a "shoulder rooster," who enjoys gently picking ears and having a nice conversation.

Pictured are Marble and Kisses enjoying our newer OEGB chicks, Lancelot, Kisses again, and Ling (my oldest roo....just had to throw in this adorable shot). Don't worry, all poop got cleaned up. I've brought in several others, but alas, no pictures were taken.

Long story short, you should do things as you wish. If spoiling your cockerels sounds right, do it. If ignoring them seems like a better option, nothing's stopping you. Using either method, there'll still be a few stinkers here and there, so neither is a guarantee.

~Alex

 

[K0k0shka]

@Alexandra33 Your post warms my heart, validates my gut, and gives me hope - thank you so much for sharing! I'm a lover and not a fighter, so this makes me happy. I've read so much about "putting them in their place" aggressively, but I just can't imagine that violence is the answer. Why would you want to make enemies and have the rooster hate your guts and plot to take you out the moment you turn your back. From what I've read so far, this all seems very similar to dog training. Yes, you want to be "the alpha", but achieving that through fear and violence is not a stable path and will only lead to problems down the road. I think the goal should be submission through peaceful means, not through fear. That the animal knows you call the shots, but also knows that you are a source of food, safety and good things, not a source of pain and a threat. That's how I am with my kids, too, haha - I take no sh*t and am a very strict ruler, but also a very just and loving one and we have a great relationship. I know chickens aren't dogs or kids, but I notice a running theme here, in terms of power balance, trust and kindness. So I will keep an eye on those roosters and subdue them with hugs if necessary, keep an eye on the kids and ban all kinds of kid-on-chicken harassment, and love and bribe the crap out of the roosters the rest of the time

Now, I do have one question. I've been thinking a lot about what ChocolateMouse brought up earlier, that the hens will be more aloof with you if they have a rooster to follow around, and friendlier with you if they don't. What has your experience been? I don't really need the rooster himself to be pet quality, I just don't want him attacking people... but I do want at least the hens to be friendly, at least with me and my family, since these chickens will be pets first and food source second...

 

[Alexandra33]

@K0k0shka , you sound like a wonderful mother and dog owner. There's certainly something to be said for authority in love.

No, violence is not the answer here. You're right on. I'm sympathetic, because my family and I were once in your shoes. When we first discovered our Orpington's true identity, it was honestly quite intimidating.....as all new things are initially. It seemed necessary to reach out for help. As kind and helpful as fellow poultry keepers were in doling out information, articles, advice, and experiences, it all pointed to one method - overlording your roo from the start. Shoo him away from the hens. Keep a long stick handy. Don't allow him to crow, or do anything that comes naturally to a cockerel. Absolutely no eating/drinking in your presence. Chase him out of the coop while you're in there. You can't have a roo if there are children involved. Sadly, this inflicted so much unnecessary stress both on me AND the Lav Orp (as well as countless boys to come). I sorely wish I had gone with my gut instinct from the very start.

As "punishment," my current go-to is holding the offending cockerel for several minutes. Or, I ignore. Both seem to work quite well (if this don't do the trick, in the pot you go ), in that I don't WANT to respond as a dominant rooster would. Chasing, kicking, and overall aggression oftentimes cause your boy to fight back, since they relate to, and expect these behaviors. I prefer to remain OUTSIDE the pecking order, and be viewed in a positive light.....think food....treats.

But to answer your question: I'll upload a video of my flock later on, so you may decide for yourself. Thus far, the only time I've noticed my girls distancing themselves was in the presence of a rough, aggressive roo. This unhealthy situation caused a constant need to be alert, for fear he'd sneak up. And, with it, also came general flightiness. Far too much anxiety for my liking. Needless to say, how a rooster treats his hens is now of utmost importance to me. Only gentlemen receive a pass to stay. My ladies are much more "themselves" when the residing roosters behave in a gentle manner.

~Alex

 

[Quackter]

I’ve been reading about roosters and aggression. I want to get orpington chickens because I’ve heard so much about them being friendly and docile. Are their roosters friendlier, too? Less prone to aggression? I have young kids (they’ll be 4 and 6 years old when we get our first chickens next spring) and am worried about them being attacked. I have bad memories of being attacked by roosters as a kid myself. We’ll hatch the chickens and raise them together as a family project, socialize and handle them a lot from the start, including the kids. They’ll be pets. I want to keep one of the roosters. Will any of that care and bonding help prevent aggression, or will their hormones take over regardless? I’m guessing we’ll need to live with multiple roosters for a while until they show their personalities enough for us to be able to pick the friendliest one to keep, or will that just make things worse? My kids’ safety comes first... Can this ever work?

I’ve been reading about roosters and aggression. I want to get orpington chickens because I’ve heard so much about them being friendly and docile. Are their roosters friendlier, too? Less prone to aggression? I have young kids (they’ll be 4 and 6 years old when we get our first chickens next spring) and am worried about them being attacked. I have bad memories of being attacked by roosters as a kid myself. We’ll hatch the chickens and raise them together as a family project, socialize and handle them a lot from the start, including the kids. They’ll be pets. I want to keep one of the roosters. Will any of that care and bonding help prevent aggression, or will their hormones take over regardless? I’m guessing we’ll need to live with multiple roosters for a while until they show their personalities enough for us to be able to pick the friendliest one to keep, or will that just make things worse? My kids’ safety comes first... Can this ever work?

Hey I just wanted to correct some wrong advice I shared earlier, believe it or not, it isn't the drunk mean rooster thing. I picked up the The Buff Orphington roosters today for the first time since they were chicks, they weigh substantially less than the Cornish Crosses of the same age and pen. The buffs are a lot more feathery. So yep, I was wrong, I hope I didn't misguide anyone. I am still going to try a trio of them for breeding this year, as I just don't feel right culling as chicks, (or even being up the chain from the hatchery doing it, I guess it would fall under Usury?), and I've heard they are a real good GP bird. I know it sounds hypocritical, but I won't eat veal or lamb, (not judging, just me), and part of having the chickens is keeping it within my ethical boundaries. Don't get me wrong, I'd club a panda to death with a baby seal to feed my family, just not when it is unnecessary. Well I went way off course there, just the complete thought lol. Sorry for steering anyone wrong.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

My Lav Orpington was a terror.....but, to his defense, the role as our very first rooster proved disastrous. Poor guy endured what no bird should ever have to face. I still experience endless regret over how we raised him.

If you don't mind, I'd like to share my personal experiences over the years, which may seem controversial to many. It's wonderful to see so many members who advocate for loving their cockerels.....not feeling terribly lonely anymore. After trying BOTH methods of raising on MANY, MANY subjects of various breeds, I yielded (and continue to yield) significantly better results by treating my boys with immense kindness. In fact, the new issue is finding cockerels to cull, because they're almost all wonderfully respectful. Elimination is now, for the most part, based on how they interact with hens. (though there are 1-2 out of every group who become human aggressive regardless)

As someone who buys strictly straight run these days, and also as someone who likes friendly birds, I socialize every chick in the same manner. Gender makes no difference. Hand-feeding, extensive handling, and bonding are all involving during the process. There's nothing wrong with earning your roo's trust.

Let's just say that back in the dark ages, when I was the "dominant rooster," things didn't go so well. Out of around 30+ cockerels, only one remained. The rest threatened me daily, and being attacked was a common occurrence. Roos don't take kindly to us challenging their authority, as this is behavior they understand. In fact, my sweetest OEGB is a perfect example. As affectionate as he normally is, he's not a pushover. When one of my younger brothers took to chasing Kisses aggressively (which I strongly discourage), he immediately flogged his leg. Now, my brother has a healthy respect for Kisses, and Kisses hasn't gone after a living soul since. He's an amazing bird, but any challenge brings out the ugly.

YES, you CAN have a pet rooster. As long as he inherited the right temperament (which one can't be sure of until maturity), it's entirely possible. Many, even here on BYC, will attest to the fantastic loyalty only a roo could be capable of. Some of my very closest bonds are, indeed, with roosters. A favorite pastime of my family's is to bring our boys inside for treats and love. Kisses warms hearts far and wide. He doesn't know a stranger.....guests are always treated to a "shoulder rooster," who enjoys gently picking ears and having a nice conversation.

Pictured are Marble and Kisses enjoying our newer OEGB chicks, Lancelot, Kisses again, and Ling (my oldest roo....just had to throw in this adorable shot). Don't worry, all poop got cleaned up. I've brought in several others, but alas, no pictures were taken.
View attachment 1879450 View attachment 1879452 View attachment 1879453 View attachment 1879454
Long story short, you should do things as you wish. If spoiling your cockerels sounds right, do it. If ignoring them seems like a better option, nothing's stopping you. Using either method, there'll still be a few stinkers here and there, so neither is a guarantee.

~Alex

I love this! It is so interesting reading through comments about aggressive roosters when, in my experience, the vast majority of roosters I've ever dealt with have been relatively non-aggressive OR aggressive but not overly so once I handled them (except in that one instance where my little Charlemagne (who I rescued from a cat when he was about 3 wks old and then raised by hand with lots of attention) was so aggressive he would never stop trying to attack me.

During my childhood, all our chickens were our pets and free-ranged our yard. We didn't collect eggs and they were permitted to hatch out chicks. We often ended up with multiple roosters, but since they had over an acre to roam, fights weren't very common. And these guys were my pets. I mean, I'd spend time with them as if they were my loyal dogs. So, you can see, I've always been baffled by the idea of ''mean'' roosters . AND there is a part of town where I live where people have dropped off their roosters, so all these roos hang out in the old village area and wander around and I've never seen or heard of one try to attack anyone and none of them have ever showed aggression towards me nor have I seen them do so towards one another.

In my current batch of 10 week olds, I've got Gerard (who was Gertrude until about 3 wks old when I was pretty sure he was a roo, and thus changed his name - he and his clutchmate, Gretchen, are my first Buff Orpingtons). He is pretty mellow and likes to chill in my lap, so here's to hoping he remains a sweet boy <3. I'll include pictures below . And if he turns out to be a hen - with his roo swagger and that comb and wattles - I'll be shocked, SHOCKED I tell you .